Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver and has been pushing for a trade for the past few months. Multiple news outlets are reporting there is a four-way trade on the horizon that could send Melo to New Jersey. The teams involved in the potential trade include the Nuggets, Nets, Bobcats, and Jazz. Here is some analysis on the potential four-way deal.
Nets: Receive Carmelo Anthony, one of the top players in the league, and easily the centerpiece of the deal. Nets want him to agree to a contract extension before giving away assets to get him. He would team with Brook Lopez and prepare for the team’s eventual move to Brooklyn, New York. They would have to give up point guard Devin Harris, first-round pick Derrick Favors, and first-round picks in 2011 and 2012. It would be worthwhile — players like Melo are extremely difficult to come by. Thin at the point guard spot, the Nets also want D.J. Augustin from Charlotte but the Bobcats reportedly are reluctant to include him in the deal.
Nuggets: Get Derrick Favors from the Nets, Andrei Kirilenko from the Jazz, and first-round picks in 2011 and 2012. While AK47 has talent and is strong defensively, he is injured frequently and is limited offensively. Favors was selected highly but I didn’t see enough out of him in college to believe he’ll be much of an offensive force in the pros. He could be a good rebounder and defensive player. This trade would be the beginning of the end of Denver’s successful run.
Bobcats: They would receive PG Devin Harris from New Jersey and give up Boris Diaw. Charlotte fans would have to love the dynamic scoring ability Harris could bring to the club. They’d be reluctant to part with Augustin, but he doesn’t stack up well with Harris who is a superior player. Still, the two-for-one might be more than Charlotte wants to surrender for an injury prone point guard. If Augustin were included in a trade, they would probably receive a trade exception because the salaries don’t match up.
Jazz: They wouldn’t have to pay the final year of AK47’s monster deal in which he receives $17 million. In exchange, they get Boris Diaw and the $18 million he is owed the next two years. Quinton Ross has been mentioned as a throw-in from the Nets, although he could also go to Denver.
