Nuggets' lack of sacrifice hurting potential Melo trade
The Nuggets continue to aggressively seek trade proposals for Carmelo Anthony, but are finding the market to be limited based on the extensive haul of assets they are trying to get in return, multiple sources told CBSSports.com.
The challenge for the Nuggets, sources say, has been finding a replacement for Andrei Kirilenko in a multi-team deal that in all likelihood would still have Anthony going to New Jersey. Even after a four-team deal also involving Utah and Charlotte went dormant last week, the Nets are "still the team that has the assets and is the most motivated," according to one person connected to the talks. But while the Nuggets remain "very actively" engaged in trade talks during what one source described as "the calm before the storm," finding trade partners able to furnish what Denver is looking for -- an established player, a young player, first-round picks, and cap relief -- has proved to be a major challenge.
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| In order to trade Melo, the Nuggets might need to up the ante. One way would be to part with Chauncey Billups. (Getty Images) |
The four-team deal involving the Bobcats and Jazz, in which New Jersey was sending No. 3 pick Derrick Favors and two first-round picks to Denver, died partly because the Nuggets were intent on trying to squeeze additional assets out of the trade and also because Denver officials were shopping the proposal around in pursuit of a better deal. Additionally, Kirilenko wound up being what one person involved in the process termed "a deal-breaker" due to strong signals that the Russian swingman was not interested in playing in Denver and was cold to the idea of signing an extension there.
Why the Nuggets wouldn't have been content to simply let Kirilenko's $17.8 million expiring contract drop off their books after the season points to another key impediment to Denver making a deal for Anthony. In addition to a high level of concern among Denver front office officials to be regarded by their peers as having extracted top value for Anthony, sources say the Nuggets are holding fast to the notion of trading Anthony while remaining a playoff-contending team. This is a notion that rival executives believe the Nuggets will have to sacrifice if they hope to satisfy Anthony's request for a trade.
"I think they have their marching orders from him that he's gone," one executive familiar with the situation sad. "To call his bluff, that's a scary proposition."
One way to up the ante, another executive said, would be for the Nuggets to sweeten their offer by agreeing to part with veteran point guard Chauncey Billups. Sources believe such a concession would be more than enough to reignite the Bobcats' interest in participating in the deal; Charlotte coach Larry Brown is said to be "freaking out" over his lack of a point guard, according to a source. Billups played for Brown in Detroit, leading the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title as the Finals MVP. Thus far, however, the Nuggets have displayed very little interest in trading Billups, a move that would be a sure signal to their fans that a major rebuilding project is under way.
Despite that obstacle, the Nuggets have escalated their efforts to shop other teams' players around the league in an effort to see what assets could be received for them after acquiring them in an Anthony trade. Denver has explored such an avenue for the Clippers' Chris Kaman, the Bulls' Luol Deng, the Nets' Devin Harris and the Bobcats' Gerald Wallace, sources say. After extending center Joakim Noah's contract, however, the Bulls remain a long shot to enter into the Melo equation. The Bobcats continue to be reluctant to trade Wallace unless they're getting Anthony, who wouldn't sign an extension in Charlotte.
Kaman was discussed in a Melo swap about a month ago, sources say, but the discussions died quickly when it became evident that the Nuggets wanted Eric Gordon in addition to one of the most valuable first-round picks in the league -- Minnesota's pick, which is top-10 protected in 2011 and unprotected in '12. Given that they have Nene, the Nuggets didn't value Kaman beyond his contract as a tool to make the deal work under league trade rules; Kaman makes $11.8 million this season and $12.7 million in '11-12. The Clippers, sources say, would favor a deal that does not include Kaman -- particularly since keeping him would enhance Anthony's belief that he would be part of a top-tier team in the West with a core of Kaman, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin and himself. The wild card in that scenario is Anthony's affinity for Los Angeles, which is shared by his wife, actress La La Vasquez.
As previously reported, among the other established players Denver has targeted as having decent replacement value for Anthony are Anderson Varejao and Andre Iguodala. The chances of Anthony signing an extension with Cleveland are "zippo," according to one source who said you can "scratch Varejao off the list." Several weeks ago, the Nuggets asked the Sixers about acquiring Iguodala in a deal that would send Anthony to New Jersey, but the proposal was rejected. Currently, there is "nothing happening" with the Sixers on that front, according to a source.
Another team that could emerge as a facilitator in an Anthony trade is the Pistons. Sources say the Nuggets inquired several weeks ago about the availability of Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince -- with a particular emphasis on Prince, whose $11.1 million contract is expiring and would provide a cost-cutting tool for the Nuggets. At the time, Pistons president Joe Dumars quickly dismissed the invitation. But sources say there's a chance Detroit's posture could change with reports this week that the team will be sold to Tigers and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch.
The Knicks, Anthony's first choice, continue to make efforts to be part of a new framework for a Melo trade and have laid the groundwork to acquire a first-round pick that would be necessary to make them a serious contender. But the Knicks are limited in the other assets they possess, and also know they could be the biggest winners of all in the Melo sweepstakes if they have patience. If Denver is unable to trade Anthony by the February deadline, he'd be headed to New York as a free agent -- although after a potential lockout, and probably at a lower price tag than the three-year, $65 million extension he can get under the current collective bargaining agreement.
That's a pretty big risk in a high-stakes game that gets more complicated by the day.
