Dallas Mavericks joining in on Melo talks

[Stack24]

It's probably an outside chance but damn don't do it.

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.co...38893/26583993

The Dallas Mavericks are plotting an aggressive push to acquire Carmelo Anthony, even if they don’t get assurances that the three-time All-Star would agree to a contract extension as part of the trade, league sources told CBSSports.com. Despite his team’s emergence as one of the powers of the Western Conference -- and, as Dallas proved Monday night in Miami, the whole league -- owner Mark Cuban is said to be not only willing to take a chance on Anthony, but eager to steal him from the Nets, who are owned by his billionaire rival, Mikhail Prokhorov. In a deal that would provide Denver with little more than future savings, the Mavs are planning what one rival executive described as a “hard” push. The Mavs’ interest has yet to take the form of a concrete offer, as one person connected to the Anthony drama told CBSSports.com Tuesday that Dallas had yet to present one. Any prospects the Mavs might have to pull off such a coup would be contingent on Anthony declining to sign an extension with New Jersey. With a signed extension as part of the deal, the Nets still possess by far the most attractive assets to Denver -- Derrick Favors, the expiring contract of Troy Murphy, and multiple first-round picks. But that is the question that the Anthony saga has hinged on for months. Part of Dallas’ strategy, according to sources, is to shift the Anthony discussions to what Cuban recently called the “rent-a-player” phase, which would drive down the price and encourage other teams to present offers without assurances that Anthony would stay put for five years -- the two he has remaining (including the early-termination option for 2011-12) plus the extension. Such potential suitors, including the Mavs, do not have enough of what Denver is looking for to compete with New Jersey’s best offer. But if Dallas is successful in shifting Denver’s focus to “rental” deals, the Nets would then have to decide how much they are willing to give up to acquire a franchise cornerstone for their move to Brooklyn -- even if Anthony could leave them in the dust as a free agent before the team even got there. Meanwhile, the Nuggets remain in a patient posture and are not in any apparent rush to push a New Jersey trade to fruition. And after acquiring two more first-round picks in a three-team trade with the Lakers and Rockets last week, Nets executives are continuing their ongoing efforts to sweeten the deal for Anthony by acquiring a veteran he’d want to play with in Newark, N.J., for a year-and-a-half. Such inducements could come in the form of Al Harrington and/or Chauncey Billups, whom Anthony might be comfortable having on board. The other scenarios, according to one executive familiar with them, are numerous and “beyond challenging” because multiple teams would be needed. Among the contending teams with the deep pockets and championship core to take a risk like trading for Anthony without a signed extension as part of the deal, Dallas has the most expiring money to make it worth the Nuggets’ while. Any Dallas proposal would have to include the expiring contracts of Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson. More money would need to be added -- Tyson Chandler? -- or a third team would need to be recruited in order to take Harrington and/or Billups off Denver’s hands. The notion of Anthony going to a contender -- or to the Nets, for that matter -- without signing his three-year, $65 million extension is exactly what New York Knicks officials are hoping for. Sources say the Knicks continue to believe that the longer the Anthony situation plays out, the better their chances of landing him through a trade, or more likely, as a free agent after the season and anticipated lockout. New York has been Anthony’s preferred destination since his operatives began pushing for a trade in September, and a person directly involved in Anthony’s decision-making process told CBSSports.com earlier this month that he’d become more entrenched in his desire to agree to an extend-and-trade only if he would up with the Knicks. CBSSports.com also reported that Anthony has not shared his position with Nuggets officials, and that Nets officials have been told differently by Anthony’s camp. Another team that various team executives believe is very much in the mix -- either to make a push to land Melo as a rental or become involved as a third-team facilitator -- is the Rockets. Houston fully expects to receive a disabled-player exception for Yao Ming totaling $5.8 million and already has a $6.3 million exception from the Trevor Ariza trade. Such exceptions can’t be combined, but individually they could be used to absorb a contract -- such as, for example, the Nuggets’ J.R. Smith’s or Harrington’s -- without sending equal money back. In return, the Rockets would either have to get a player they want or be compensated accordingly with draft picks or other assets. The Rockets also are flush with the expiring contracts of Shane Battier, Jared Jeffries, and even Yao, whose contract is insured due to his season-ending foot injury. Rockets owner Leslie Alexander has a history of bold moves, and has placed few restrictions on his front office, led by GM Daryl Morey, to spend money in order to win. The Rockets, for example, are currently a tax-paying team and are under no mandate from ownership to shed salary even though they are off to a slow start and have lost Yao for the season -- and maybe for good. A dark horse in all of this? The Mavs’ opponent Tuesday night, Orlando. The Magic have a little more than two months before the Feb. 24 trade deadline to see if their revamped roster will be good enough to contend for a title after this week’s blockbuster trades with Phoenix and Washington. But the only piece that is likely to be available and enticing to Denver is Jason Richardson, whose $14.4 million contract expires after the season. Richardson cannot be combined with other players in a trade for 60 days, which would leave just enough time before the trade deadline to involve him in the Anthony discussions. If -- and this is a big if -- Anthony is still a Nugget by then.

[KingStevo10]

He won't go there. His wife hates the mavs. B/c supposedly the maverick fans in the playoffs were heckling or bothering her...

So if melo is listening to his wife which I beleive he is b/c he wants to go to New York so bad. He won't go to the mavs.

And why do they need him.

[htownrox1]

Yeah, I saw this earlier.. But I don't see it happening.. Melo doesn't want anything but New York, or New Jersey.

[RedRedemption]

Jesus Christ. If Melo goes to Dallas the league is done. Don't help our division rival! Go waste away your life on the Nets Melo!

[LongTimeFan]

I hate that this story is getting so much run. The Mavericks have NOWHERE near what it would take to land a Carmelo Anthony. Cuban has said they would trade for him without a contract extension and suddenly people are writing articles like they're a legitimate option. The only 'asset' Dallas has that other teams don't is Beaubois -- and there's no way Denver passes on Favors for him.

There is absolutely no way Carmelo Anthony ends up a Maverick.

[KingStevo10]

Originally Posted by LongTimeFan I hate that this story is getting so much run. The Mavericks have NOWHERE near what it would take to land a Carmelo Anthony. Cuban has said they would trade for him without a contract extension and suddenly people are writing articles like they're a legitimate option. The only 'asset' Dallas has that other teams don't is Beaubois -- and there's no way Denver passes on Favors for him. There is absolutely no way Carmelo Anthony ends up a Maverick.

But they have novak.

But not sure how the salary matches but: roddy b, 1rst round pick, Caron/Marion. Not a bad deal or 3rd team to get involved.

But the nets: 5 first round picks the next 2 years, favors, & Murphy.
This deal is to good to pass up.

[roslolian]

Originally Posted by RedRedemption Jesus Christ. If Melo goes to Dallas the league is done. Don't help our division rival! Go waste away your life on the Nets Melo!

For a rental? Melo's overrated anyway, I don't see Dirk-Kidd-Melo unseating LBJ-Bosh-Wade or KG-Rondo-Pierce-Allen, let alone the lakers.

If Dallas indeed pulls of this deal we'll all know how good (or bad) Melo really is. If he can't win on a roster as stacked as Dallas he ain't a real superstar.

[tested911]

Mr. Cuban please buy the Astros!!!! we need your spending ways

[5KR4TCH]

I bet Dallas would be willing on going on a melo rental. Sadly it'd make ponys a crazy contender. I really hope that does not happen screw Dallas.

[5KR4TCH]

Sorry meant I bet Dallas (Mark Cuban) would gamble on a one year rental for Melo.

[Shaud]

Originally Posted by KingStevo10 He won't go there. His wife hates the mavs. B/c supposedly the maverick fans in the playoffs were heckling or bothering her... So if melo is listening to his wife which I beleive he is b/c he wants to go to New York so bad. He won't go to the mavs. And why do they need him.

He won't go there? This is a trade not a free agent signing and the article says they are willing to trade for him as a rental so no his wife has no say in this trade happening or not.

[thelasik]

Any idea on what he is offering?

This may be a ploy to alter the bids of other teams...bid check so to speak.

[LongTimeFan]

Originally Posted by KingStevo10 But they have novak. But not sure how the salary matches but: roddy b, 1rst round pick, Caron/Marion. Not a bad deal or 3rd team to get involved. But the nets: 5 first round picks the next 2 years, favors, & Murphy. This deal is to good to pass up.

That deal comes no where close to comparing to what the Nets are offering.

The Mavericks do not have the assets to pull off this type of deal. If all you needed were expiring contracts, you'd see Houston get involved ASAP with Yao, Battier, and Jeffries' contract. Denver wants a piece it can build around -- which ISN'T Beaubois.

[KingStevo10]

Originally Posted by Shaud He won't go there? This is a trade not a free agent signing and the article says they are willing to trade for him as a rental so no his wife has no say in this trade happening or not.

Ya I know it's bot a free agent signing.

But I cab guarantee you he won't wear a maverick jersey this year or next.

[roflmcwaffles]

Originally Posted by roslolian For a rental? Melo's overrated anyway, I don't see Dirk-Kidd-Melo unseating LBJ-Bosh-Wade or KG-Rondo-Pierce-Allen, let alone the lakers. If Dallas indeed pulls of this deal we'll all know how good (or bad) Melo really is. If he can't win on a roster as stacked as Dallas he ain't a real superstar.

I HATE Dallas, but hell if they get Melo (a player who can be cold blooded late in the game), they would have to be the favorites.

The Mavs trouble last few years is their best player (Dirk) in clutch situations chokes and chokes BAD. Adding someone who can make the big shot on top of giving Dirk less double teams, would make this a scary team.

Top off the fact that the Mavs right now are 23-5 or something.

That all being said, I don't think Mavs will get Melo. Melo is going to the Nets, because they have a crazy amount of pieces they can offer.

[KingStevo10]

Originally Posted by LongTimeFan That deal comes no where close to comparing to what the Nets are offering. The Mavericks do not have the assets to pull off this type of deal. If all you needed were expiring contracts, you'd see Houston get involved ASAP with Yao, Battier, and Jeffries' contract. Denver wants a piece it can build around -- which ISN'T Beaubois.

Exactly the Nets have the best deal out there so far.

Unless a 3rd team gets involved to help the Knicks, he will be a net. Most likely

[Entropy]

Dallas should get it done. Melo leaves for NY next year anyway, and they'll be short 2 or 3 good players + whatever picks they use to get him.

[Shaud]

Originally Posted by KingStevo10 Ya I know it's bot a free agent signing. But I cab guarantee you he won't wear a maverick jersey this year or next.

I don't see it happening neither.

[Codeo]

Mavs won't be able to do it

But Kidd/Melo/Dirk is rather scary imo

[The Situation]

Kidd/Jet/Melo/Dirk/Chandler in the 4th would be deadly