The Philadelphia Inquirer has published a new report, suggesting that the 76ers front office will be exploring a three-way trade with New Jersey and Denver in order to land Carmelo Anthony. In this scenario, the Nuggets' would obtain Andre Iguodala, a player such as Thaddeus Young, and expiring contracts.
While Kate Fagan, the author of the story calls such a scenario "very unlikely to go down", it is another sign that Anthony is a hot commodity on the NBA market.
SBNation.com has compiled a list of potential candidates, including Philadelphia, and the likely pieces they would move in an Anthony blockbuster.
The Nuggets reportedly want one top-flight young player, salary-cap relief and multiple draft picks. Many teams can put together a package like that. Those teams include:
- Chicago, though they seem unwilling to deal Joakim Noah.
- Houston, who could provide many of the top picks they received from the Knicks last year.
- The LA Clippers, who could trade someone like Eric Gordon and a package of picks.
- Minnesota (don't laugh), who has young players like Kevin Love, Wesley Johnson and even Ricky Rubio, as well as picks.
- New Jersey, who can deal Brook Lopez, or if not him, first-round pick Derrick Favors.
- New York, though they lack a lot of draft picks.
- Philadelphia, if they are willing to potentially give up on Evan Turner so quickly. They also have Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Marreese Speights.
- Sacramento, though Anthony doesn't appear to be a good match with Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins.
Though this is all still speculation, the hot stove is certainly heating up quickly. Odds now appear to be heavily against Carmelo Anthony playing in a Denver Nuggets uniform for the 2010-2011 season.