NBA Free Agents News: 5 Teams New York Knicks Could Trade Carmelo Anthony to Before Deadline
The 2014-15 NBA season is just over a quarter of the way complete, and trade rumors are buzzing around the league.
According to multiple reports, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony may be open waiving his no trade clause in his contract, thus allowing the Knicks to trade him. The Knicks have been extremely disappointing this season, and they need to rebuild.
Here are five teams who could trade for Anthony this season:
1. Los Angeles Lakers
Just like the Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers are having a bad year, and it's rebuilding time. Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer haven't worked out as planned, Kobe Bryant is nearing retirement, and the Lakers have issues on both sides of the floor. With Bryant's contract almost over, the Lakers need another superstar in Los Angeles.
Anthony spends most of his offseasons in Los Angeles anyway, and his relationship with Derek Fisher isn't showing any promise. The Lakers would have plenty of value to offer the Knicks this season in a potential trade, such as Nick Young, draft picks and rookie Julius Randle. Trading Anthony away to the Western Conference wouldn't do any harm for the Knicks.
2. Chicago Bulls
This previous offseason, Anthony almost made the decision to sign with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent. It makes perfect sense, considering the Bulls have a great defensive unit led by head coach Tom Thibodeau, and Anthony could provide the much-needed scoring.
But does Anthony want to play in Chicago? With Derrick Rose constantly injured, the Bulls need a great scorer like Anthony to provide a spark come playoff time. Paired with Joakim Noah, Anthony and the Bulls would be an elite team in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Having Anthony play in a Bulls uniform would mean bad news for the rest of the Eastern Conference.
3. Memphis Grizzlies
What a great combination this would make. The Memphis Grizzlies are the No.1-ranked defensive squad thanks to Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph allowing just 94 points per game. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies offense ranks just 15th overall in the NBA this season. Playing in the Southwest division with the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs is a tough task.
The only issue here is location. Would Anthony enjoy playing in a city like Memphis? If he would, the Grizzlies could become by far the most balanced team in the league. The Knicks also wouldn't have to worry about facing Anthony very often, as trading him away to the Western Conference has its benefits. In return, the Knicks could receive a valuable player such as Courtney Lee or Mike Conley.
4. Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are the Grizzlies of the Eastern Conference. Even without Paul George, the Pacers still rank seventh overall in points allowed. Roy Hibbert and Argentine Luis Scola are grabbing rebounds at a high rate, and David West is still on the roster. Let's not forget that this team was the No.1 seed last year and made it all the way to the conference finals.
If the Knicks were to trade Anthony within the East to the Pacers, they would have to get a lot back in return. Getting 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert (who is from Queens, New York) in a possible swap could benefit both teams in the long run. Hibbert is of Jamaican descent, just like a former all-time great Knicks center who stood 7 feet tall in Patrick Ewing. The Pacers would get their scorer, while the Knicks would free up a lot of cap space and get a very reliable defensive center.
5. New Orleans Pelicans
Just like the Grizzlies and Lakers, Knicks management can sleep easy at night knowing they won't be trading a high quality player within their own conference. The New Orleans Pelicans are an up and coming team, but they play in the toughest division in the NBA, the Southwest. Anthony Davis can't do everything.
Is there a possibility that Phil Jackson and Knicks general manager Steve Mills can somehow sway the Pelicans into trading for Davis? Probably not, but it's worth a try. If the Knicks can't get Davis, they can attempt to get Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and a lot of future draft picks.
The NBA Trade deadline is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2015, at 3 p.m. EST.
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