Willoughby Pub Lending Support for Browns Coaching Candidate
January 8, 2011While We’re Waiting… Trade Exceptions, Vizquel’s Hall of Fame Odds, 2011 Big Ten
January 9, 2011January always is the time for NBA trade rumors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are as involved as ever in those discussions this season. While the nature of the trades is much different from the “buying” attitude of the past several years, don’t be surprised to continue to see trade possibilities heating up in the coming weeks.
Some of the most intense rumors of late are those surrounding Carmelo Anthony’s impending departure from the Denver Nuggets. This has been developing for months, but talks supposedly intensified around Christmas between the Nuggets, the New Jersey Nets and the Cavaliers serving as a potential third team, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Broussard.
Those rumors have shifted drastically over the past few weeks, but Cleveland certainly remains in the discussion for that deal and many other developing trade scenarios.
The original proposal around Christmas would have sent Anthony to the Nets, rookie Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, multiple draft picks and the Cavs’ large trade exception to the Nuggets, and Troy Murphy and more first-round picks to the Cavaliers. John Krolik of Cavs: The Blog analyzed this deal and commended owner Dan Gilbert for being unafraid to be so involved, but it looks like this might not happen after all.
Marc Stein’s latest at ESPN.com has the Detroit Pistons serving as a crucial third team to these discussions between the Nets and the Nuggets. Over at the New York Post, Fred Kerber reports that this particular three-way could potentially even break the NBA record for most players dealt in a single trade.
Either way, the New York Knicks and other teams remain in the Anthony sweepstakes, and it appears unlikely at the present that a deal will follow through with Cleveland.
Meanwhile, one other trade rumor proposed recently originated via an ESPN.com chat with Chad Ford. This has a commenter suggesting that it would be impossible to reject a deal where the Oklahoma City Thunder ship James Harden to Cleveland for Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson.
Michael Curry shared his more analytical thoughts on this rumor over at Cavs HQ recently, shedding some pessimism on the upside of Harden. Fans would certainly be hesitant to part with two of the most popular Cleveland basketball athletes at the moment, but it’s hard to be so down about a team that is already 1-19 in its past 20 contests.
Of course, Antawn Jamison has been heavily discussed on the rumor mill all season long and at this point in time, it’s safe to assume that no player is safe on this struggling Cavs roster. Already the worst team in the NBA, it’s just about time to rebuild again and a $14.5 million trade exception could help in any potential deal until July.
So stay tuned, folks. Cleveland’s current total of three 2011 draft picks is likely to increase and the team will hopefully start to sell assets and begin cleaning house in the coming weeks.
(Photo above via NBAE/Getty Images)
11 Comments
Do picks have a monetary value with regards to trades in the nba?
Also, what good does an exception do anyone except those looking to shred salary?
Do it. People fail to realize how many teams have the trade exception and expiring contracts this year. It’s worth little. That might have been different in years past but otherwise that trade exception won’t yield crap. Better to get what you can.
Chris – no, no monetary value is given to draft picks. And nothing, it’s only for those looking to dump contracts.
in terms of if there is a lockout, and the need to save money, the draft picks are a sure bet. i would also love to stockpile picks – can you imagine 3 or 4 first round picks in the same draft? you’d think you’d HAVE to hit on at least ONE of those picks
Picks aren’t worth money technically, but people have bought draft picks before…a draft pick is an asset its a player or players!
If you have a 15 million dollar trade exception for example..you could trade someone with a salary of 1 million & bring back someone with a salary up to 15 million…so it’s more than shedding salary.
no way would i trade andy & boobie for Harden. I’m not sold on him and giving up 2 of our best players for him doesn’t seem to help too much.
I agree with #5 but I’d move Gibson. Andy has more value but for other teams. For the Cavaliers Andy’s true value is only in what he can bring in a trade. His intangibles of heart and hustle aren’t as important now sadly, unfortunately.
that Harden/AV,boobie trade is nonsense. it was just a reader asking chad ford if it is a good trade and ford of course said yes. nothing more. frankly its a bad trade. harden has limited upside but i think alot of people are high on him since presti drafted him high and since presti can do no wrong in many people’s eyes. but the cavs have both AV and boobie tied up for year with reasonable contracts so there is no reason to trade them for the sake of trading them. AV in particular should demand a high asking price since he is a proven outstanding defensive player and can be a final piece for a top team.
I think Melo’should go to the nets and help them out I am a fan of melo and have been since i was 18- 3 yrs ago. but I feel he should go to the nets on trade deadline day. I feel he should be included in a four team trade:
Nets get: Carmelo Anthony and
Nuggets get: Dominic McGuire and Anthony Morrow
Bobcats get:Al Harrington and Jordan Farmar
Clippers get: Kwame Brown
Carmelo Anthony is going to be a Net no later than Friday. The west is all depleted of talent. Edan Aharony
everybody knows melo wants to get closer to nj or ny, but LA is the place 2 be. Carmelo will be with the Clippers before the end of the season no doubt. I see him with Billups though. The trade that has been wating is Chauncey and Melo as a package deal for Brian Cook and Aminu. Therefore LA is the place for Melo.