There’s been a great deal of talk about exactly where Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony will be traded this season. The strongest buzz has been for the New York Knicks, although a new heavyweight may have entered the arena, reports ESPN. Carmelo may be headed to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Carmelo to Lakers: A Magic fit
The groundwork for a Carmelo to the Lakers trade is there. Mere days after former Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson proclaimed that the team has to change something in order to win a championship, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak told the Los Angeles media that he is open to a trade. Carmelo and his wife, MTV personality La La Vazquez, bought a home in Los Angeles last summer, too. Lakers representatives have coyly denied interest.
Lakers stats
The Lakers currently sit at 36-16, which is first in the Pacific Division, but numerous high-profile losses have sent the team scrambling for answers. Considering that a strong scorer is what the Lakers need, Anthony would be ideal. He’s a dominant scorer who can pull up for the jumper or abuse smaller players down low (‘Melo is 6-foot-8, 230 pounds). With Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, the Lakers would be a nightmare to guard.
Who the Lakers would give up in trade
If the Carmelo to the Lakers deal goes through, ESPN reports the Lakers would likely move oft-injured center Andrew Bynum. Bynum has the size and mobility to cause problems for interior scorers, but questions about his durability remain. ESPN reports that a straight-up trade of Carmelo Anthony for Andrew Bynum would fulfill the requirements of the current NBA collective bargaining agreement, although more players than Anthony may be offered, as the Nuggets want to shed salary.
Other Carmelo Anthony trade possibilities
In addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver Nuggets have engaged in intense Carmelo trade talk with the New York Knicks. After months of speculation, none of the potential trades – some of which involve the Minnesota Timberwolves to make a three-team deal – have come to fruition. Part of the hold-up has been questions about the health of Knicks forward Wilson Chandler following calf and ankle injuries that may require surgery.
Sources
ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6101304
ESPN Los Angeles: http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/15841/the-philosophy-of-trading-andrew-bynum
Los Angeles Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/02/dont-count-on-carmelo-anthony-coming-to-lakers.html
Lakers’ Ron Artest on how to guard Carmelo Anthony
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