In yet another indication that it’s a matter of when, not if Carmelo Anthony is traded, the Denver Nuggets have reportedly begun to listen to trade offers for the disgruntled star, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chad Ford.
Report: Nuggets Softening Stance, Listening To Trade Offers For Carmelo Anthony
The Nuggets still aren’t aggressively shopping Anthony and haven’t withdrawn their longstanding offer of a contract extension, but numerous sources told ESPN.com that Denver officials have in recent days let other teams know for the first time that they will listen to pitches after previously resisting such discussions.
The Nuggets, according to Ford and Stein, are determined not to suffer the same fate the Raptors and Cavaliers did when they lost Chris Bosh and LeBron James. If Anthony is indeed on the way out, they want to receive value for him in the form of players, not trade exceptions. Anthony has reportedly still not met with new general manager Masai Ujiri, which is undoubtedly increasing Denver’s urgency to make a deal.
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.
Those teams would have to immediately give Anthony a contract extension, which means Anthony holds a little bit of leverage in the situation. Nobody has emerged as a frontrunner yet, but the Nuggets certainly have many suitors for Anthony’s services.
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