Melo Still Hoping For Trade To Bulls, Knicks

ASidd_1990 · Sep 10, 2010

Don't Count on seeing Carmelo as a Bull

CHICAGO -- Yes, the Chicago Bulls are interested in Carmelo Anthony. Who wouldn't be? If a team has a chance to land a player of his caliber, in any kind of trade, it would be foolish not to listen.

That's exactly what Bulls general manager Gar Forman and executive vice president of operations John Paxson are doing right now. They have seen and heard about the Yahoo! Sports report that says the Bulls are high on Anthony's wish list. They're listening to whatever Denver might be saying, and they're listening to one another and the rest of their staff.

[+] EnlargeMike DiNovo/US Presswire
Joakim Noah will make $3.1 million next season and will become a restricted free agent after the season if the Bulls don't extend him.The idea of pairing up Derrick Rose and Anthony for years to come has to make the duo salivate. But in order to land Anthony, is it worth having to trade away several other key pieces of a young, formidable team that appears only to be getting better? That's the question that Forman and Paxson have to figure out long before they enter into any kind of serious discussions with the Nuggets.

At the forefront of that quandary is this specific question:

Are the Bulls willing to include Joakim Noah in a deal that would bring Anthony to Chicago?

In many ways, that is probably the only way this deal would get done. There's been speculation for several months that if the Bulls make an offer for Anthony it would include Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson and/or draft picks and cash.

But why would Denver accept that deal? Deng has four years and almost $52 million left on his contract. Not to mention the fact that he has had a hard time staying healthy the past few years. Gibson is a solid player who is only going to get better, but he isn't ever going to turn into a superstar. Johnson is a project, and it's debatable whether he will ever earn any meaningful minutes for any team.

You're telling me the Nuggets can't find a better deal than that somewhere?

Now, if the Bulls are willing to part with Noah then everything changes. Adding Noah to the deal makes it more palatable for the Nuggets to take on Deng's contract. But even then they would probably still insist that Gibson and/or picks and cash be included. Why take on all the extra money owed to Deng unless you are getting several young, potential game-changers, in return?

It's hard to imagine any scenario in which this deal gets done without Deng being involved because of the way the salary cap numbers shake out, but even with Noah involved it may not be a slam dunk. The Nuggets would have to work out a new deal with Noah at some point before next summer, or else risk having their key trade piece become a restricted free agent at the year and watch him potentially walk away.

If they did find a way to re-sign Noah, that would mean they most likely would have over $100 million invested in Noah and Deng over the next few years on a team that clearly appears to be headed into serious rebuilding mode.

If the Nuggets don't pick up Chauncey Billups' $14.2 million option next summer, (assuming, of course there isn't a lockout), the Nuggets essentially become the Bulls JV team, minus Rose and Carlos Boozer. Now, is it worth it for them to go that route or try to find a better deal with a team that has even younger, less expensive pieces, like the Clippers for example? That's something that new Denver GM Masai Ujiri must figure out.

In the meantime, Forman and Paxson have to go through the same kind of thought process: Is it worth it to trade Noah, Deng and Gibson for Anthony?

The guess here is that the ultimate conclusion will be no.

The Bulls would gladly deal Deng, Gibson, Johnson cash and picks to the Nuggets for Carmelo. If they can convince Ujiri that's the best offer he can get then GarPax instantly vaults up to second place in the executive of the year voting behind Pat Riley and the Bulls will truly be able to go toe to toe with the Lakers, Heat, Magic and Celtics for a title for years to come. But if Forman and Paxson give up Noah, Deng and Gibson for Anthony how much closer to a title are they really?

Who plays center for the Bulls? An unproven rookie in Omer Asik or a grizzled veteran like Kurt Thomas? How do they line up with a Lakers frontline which includes Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom? Who is going to deal with Dwight Howard in a seven-game series? A starting lineup that included Rose, Anthony and Boozer would be very good but how much better, if at all, would it be than a Rose, Noah, Deng, Boozer lineup with Gibson coming off the bench?

Are the Bulls any closer to a title with Anthony if they have to give up Noah in the process?

That's the question that is spinning around the heads of Forman and Paxson right now and that's why, in the end, I don't think you'll see the Bulls and Nuggets make a deal unless Denver gets desperate at the last minute and accepts some kind of proposal which includes Deng, Gibson and a potpourri of other things that Bulls wouldn't mind unloading.
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Nothing to see here folks.

Jontro · Sep 10, 2010

I would laugh if Melo goes to NY, still resulting in NY lottery bound, and Lala becomes a pr0nstar.

ASidd_1990 · Sep 10, 2010

Jontro said:

I would laugh if Melo goes to NY, still resulting in NY lottery bound, and Lala becomes a pr0nstar.
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Melo aint gonna be a Knick unless he waits until the end of the season.

NY virtually has no assets to trade for. Morey utterly raped Walsh out of every asset that NY could have ever had for a Melo trade.

CaptainRox · Sep 10, 2010

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

We have more to offer than both teams. (yeah my homerism kicked in)

Oski2005 · Sep 10, 2010

What I don't get is this thing about helping his wife's career out. She's already been fired by MTV, so she's got nothing to do in New York because there's no way a major radio station is wasting any time with her. She can't act, so what's the point of going to LA? All she's barely good for is hosting crappy realislut shows on Vh1. Those shows only film for a few weeks, so it's not like she needs to live in LA.

Carl Herrera · Sep 10, 2010

Oski2005 said:

What I don't get is this thing about helping his wife's career out. She's already been fired by MTV, so she's got nothing to do in New York because there's no way a major radio station is wasting any time with her. She can't act, so what's the point of going to LA? All she's barely good for is hosting crappy realislut shows on Vh1. Those shows only film for a few weeks, so it's not like she needs to live in LA.
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You are talking rationally. In Lala's mind, she would have been a superstar if she wasn't stuck in Denver with Melo.

Raven · Sep 10, 2010

Carl Herrera said:

You are talking rationally. In Lala's mind, she would have been a superstar if she wasn't stuck in Denver with Melo.
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A reality star needs exposure, so it's obvious why she'd prefer NY or LA, and it's pretty obvious who wears the spurs in that marriage if Carmelo ends up with the Knicks.

Gummi Clutch · Sep 10, 2010

They both are from NY.
They got married in NY.
They just bought a BIG house in LA.

But it sounds like Melo is going to Chicago.

htownrox1 · Sep 10, 2010

<a href='http://cheezburger.com/View/3951581952'><img src='http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2010/9/10/420d7449-6aa6-4941-9cbd-9485c2cb0e52.jpg' id='_r_a_3951581952' title="Clutchfans.. Im not coming.. to Houston.." alt="Clutchfans.. Im not coming.. to Houston.." /></a>

DaDakota · Sep 10, 2010

Is he here yet?

DD

Da_Spark · Sep 10, 2010

This 3-team trade idea posted by @sportsguy33 makes more sense than what the bulls have to offer. Kaman to DET., Prince, Aminu, LAC 1st rd pick, MIN 2012 1st rd to DEN., Melo to LAC.

ArtV · Sep 10, 2010

Ahh the Clippers...Where good players go to die. Baron Davis...meet your new brother.

wreck · Sep 10, 2010

wrong forum. What's worse, wasting time talking about Melo or wasting time talking about Lienert?

I think it's a tossup

Da_Spark · Sep 10, 2010

wreck said:

wrong forum. What's worse, wasting time talking about Melo or wasting time talking about Lienert?

I think it's a tossup
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Somehow you've managed to excert some effort replying to it. If you think it's a waste of time, why even bother posting. Ahh the hipocracy.

ASidd_1990 · Sep 10, 2010

Da_Spark said:

This 3-team trade idea posted by @sportsguy33 makes more sense than what the bulls have to offer. Kaman to DET., Prince, Aminu, LAC 1st rd pick, MIN 2012 1st rd to DEN., Melo to LAC.
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or the one by @john_hollinger that he posted about the idea between a 3 team trade that would send Melo to Houston, Brooks to Charlotte and Dampier to Denver.

Z-Ro&Trae · Sep 11, 2010

ZJP3 said:

I honestly at this point don't care for Melo that much, as long as he doesn't go t the Knicks, besides. I want Iggy.
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iggy's not so bad. at least he can drive to the rim and dish. he just inconsistent on offense.

Da Wink · Sep 11, 2010

if Melo is really not feasible, i want us to trade for a young and athletic SF...maybe someone like Jerebko, Casspi, Thad Young or Josh Smith.

Rockets4279 · Sep 11, 2010

Da Wink said:

if Melo is really not feasible, i want us to trade for a young and athletic SF...maybe someone like Jerebko, Casspi, Thad Young or Josh Smith.
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Young would be awesome

clos4life · Sep 11, 2010

As long as Melo doesn't go to NY I'll be ok with most of his other trade locations that have been mentioned so far.

Williamson · Sep 11, 2010

wreck said:

wrong forum. What's worse, wasting time talking about Melo or wasting time talking about Lienert?

I think it's a tossup
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Who is Lienert?

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