Melo to say Hello to Free Agency?

It is yet unclear as to where Carmelo Anthony will be playing next year.

He came to New York with the hope that he could win his first NBA championship, but Carmelo Anthony's contract is expiring this summer, and he hasn't got anywhere near a ring.

In fact during his 4 seasons at the Knicks, they haven't got past the first round of the play-offs. So it's no surprise that Melo has been rumoured to be weighing up his options in the free agency this summer, with plenty of potential suitors queuing up to sign him. Carmelo is likely to undertake a similar process to the one Dwight Howard took last year and test the free-market by meeting with different teams throughout the off-season.

Two teams are already allegedly on the list, his current club the New York Knicks (more on them later) and the Chicago Bulls. Joining the Bulls is an enticing offer for both sides, on paper at least. Melo isn't renowned for playing great defence and the Bulls aren't the most attacking side in the world. Tom Thibodeau (head coach of the Chicago Bulls) could help work on Carmelo's defence, and in return Anthony could easily drop 25 points a night, a figure that would propel the Bulls' record through the roof. The thought of a Rose-Butler-Anthony-Gibson-Noah starting 5 with players like Nikola Mirotic, whom the Bulls' are likely to buy the rights to, and D.J Augustin coming off the bench would send any Bulls fan into a frenzy, and with Tom Thibodeau at the helm, the team look like they could be genuine title contenders.

There are also whispers that a return to Denver could be on the cards for Carmelo. This could prove to be an exciting decision, with the Nuggets having plenty of young talent on their roster, such as big men JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. Adding Carmelo Anthony to that set-up could give them that bit of consistency that the Nuggets sometimes lacked this year. But unfortunately, it is a move that is very unlikely to happen. The Nuggets have absolutely no cap space, and are not likely to trade young players away in the hope that Melo will rejoin them, for a few more years before retirement.

The Lakers are another team who have been rumoured to be interested in acquiring Carmelo's services. This may not come as a surprise as they seem to be linked to every free agent on the market, but this deal looks like it is more likely to materialise. Kobe Bryant and Anthony are rumoured to be close friends, after playing together in the past 2 Olympics games (winning gold medals in both events). Kobe recently offered advice to Anthony (on the assumption that Carmelo would stay in New York), saying that although Madison Square Garden is the "Mecca of basketball" he should let the Knicks know that he won't tolerate being in a team that isn't contending for an NBA championship. If Melo did move to L.A., it would be interesting to see how the Bryant-Anthony partnership would work. Both players are known for their, sometimes "selfish", shooting form, and it is yet to be seen how well they could work together. An alternative view point is that Melo could be seen as a replacement for Kobe, who is now in twilight years of his career. Despite the Lakers being a prestigious franchise to play for, it's unlikely that Melo will end up there.

A more believable option would be for Melo to move to the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have had a good campaign, claiming their best record for 6 seasons. And with superstars James Harden and Dwight Howard already at the team, the parts are all there for a title-contending team. The trade proposed by most sources will send Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin to the Knicks. This deal works well with both teams. The Knicks regain Lin, which will help their struggling backcourt, and get Asik, who is desperate to get out of Houston. This trade seems almost too perfect, and is seen as a brilliant move by NBA legend Oscar Robertson. He said "If he (Anthony) goes to Houston, they're gonna win everything." Indeed, it could turn the Rockets into a dynasty, especially with young guys like Terrence Jones and Patrick Beverley developing, providing much hope for the future.

Of course, there's always the option of staying in the Big Apple, a choice looking more likely with the latest additions to the backroom staff. They've hired a new President, with Phil Jackson joining the club. Jackson is a known winner, winning 13 rings as a player and a coach and could be a pivotal factor in getting the best out of under-performing players, which the Knicks have plenty of at the minute (Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith, the list goes on). However, there are still uncertainties as to who will take the coaching role, with Jackson's first choice, Steve Kerr, being snapped up by the Golden State Warriors earlier in the month. The Knicks will be able to spend more freely in the next post-season, when players such as Kevin Love, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge are available, but the question is whether 'Melo will want to wait until then?

Whether he stays or goes, Melo will always be remembered for his incredible scoring form. Sources close to him say that he's going to take his time to think about moving, but will have to persuade his family, who are very much settled in New York. As a player, he will want to win rings, and at the moment, it doesn't look like that's achievable with the Knicks. 

Best (or is that Worst?) Draft Day Trades

Draft Day is known for it's trades. If a team picks a player they don't necessarily need, or want, they can try to do business with the other franchises. Most of the time, it is mutually beneficial for both sides, but sometimes it can go horribly, horribly wrong.

5 - Kevin Love Grizzlies to Timberwolves

Kevin Love is one of my favourite players and in 2008, he was involved in a big eight-player trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Along with the main event of Love and O.J Mayo switching teams, Memphis traded Mike Miller, Jason Collins and Brian Cardinal. Making the opposite journey were Greg Buckner, Marko Jaric and Antonie Walker.

Since then Love has gone on to establish himself as one of the best big men in the game, showing Memphis what they missed out on. At the minute, we have to watch Love's talents being wasted on a below par T'Wolves, when we could have seen him teaming with Marc Gasol in the frontcourt.

4 - Scottie Pippen Sonics to Bulls

Before setting up one of the biggest "Big Threes" of all time, Scottie Pippen was a member of the now obsolete Seattle Supersonics.

The small forward was then moved out to Chicago, with the centre Olden Polynice going in the other direction. Polynice averaged 7.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in his playing days, a solid career, but nothing to write home about.

Pippen, on the other hand, formed a dynasty with Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman, and went on to win 6 rings. Without Pippen, it's likely that Jordan wouldn't have won his titles, and wouldn't be considered as one of the greats. Funny how things work out, isn't it ?


3 - Dirk Nowitzki Bucks to Mavericks

The best Mavericks player of all time, Dirk Nowitzki, started his career as a Milwaukee Buck. However, he was soon switching conferences to join a Dallas side who were stuck in a rut.

Since then, he has lead the Mavs to 12 post-season campaigns, with one of them resulting in a ring, in 2011. Individually, he has won an MVP award, 12 All-Star Appearances and a place in the 50-40-90 club.

In the other direction went Robert Traylor, who was touted to be the best big man in the draft. However, he struggled with injury problems and obesity in his respectable, but not sparkling career.

2 - Kobe Bryant Hornets to Lakers
Kobe entered the draft in 1996, as a fresh-faced 17 year-old straight out of high school. He was selected 13th by the Charlotte Hornets. However, Bryant wanted to play for one team, and one team only.

The Los Angeles Lakers.

Amazingly, the Hornets managed to work out a trade for the unproven "kid" of the NBA to his dream side. Centre Vlade Divac was sacrificed from the Lakers roster, despite being a good player for them and being on the back of his best season ever.

Looking back, the Lakers did a very good bit of business. Divac played a couple of seasons in Charlotte before moving out to Sacramento to lead their play-off run.

As for Kobe ? Well, you know the rest...

1 - Bill Russell St.Louis Hawks to Celtics

One of basketball's biggest risks ended up being a brilliant move by the Celtics head coach, Red Auberbach.

In the 1956 draft, Bill Russell was selected second by the St.Louis Hawks. Auberbach was so keen on the 6'10" centre, he was prepared to trade away Ed McCauley, the team's best player.

Although his plan seemed radical at the time, it panned out to be one of the best trades of all time. As well as acquiring Russell, the Celtics drafted Tom Heinsohn and K.C Jones on that night, two more staple parts in the most successful dynasty of all time.

McCauley still had a very successful career, picking up numerous All-Star appearances, and even a ring in a Hall of Fame career. But his success was no match for Russell who went on to win 11 rings in 13 years, as well as 5 MVP championships and 12 All-Star games. He is now considered one of the greatest centres, if not players, of all time.

If Russell didn't trade teams on that night, we could be sat here talking about the dynasty of the St.Louis Hawks.

Celtics Turn Down Trade from Kings for Rajon Rondo

A rumour was released last night that an offer was made from the Sacramento Kings to the Boston Celtics.

The Kings offered rookie Ben McLemore, point guard Isaiah Thomas and two picks. In return they wanted starting point guard Rajon Rondo. The Celtics declined.


My initial reaction was "What a bad move by the Celtics". But after a bit of thought, I see their thought process.

As it stands, the Celtics have a potential 21 draft picks in the next 5 years, an absolutely staggering number. Add this to a roster that already contains 7 players aged 25 and under, and you are looking a team that has serious potential for the future. But of course, every team needs a leader, and I think that Rajon Rondo can provide that. Along with Jeff Green and Brandon Bass, the Celtics have a decent big three.

And let's look at the players offered by the Kings. Isaiah Thomas is having the best season of his career (despite his team having an awful record), averaging 20 points and 6 assists a game. However, these numbers aren't as good as Rondo's could be once he fully recovers from injury. Ben McLemore has potential, and I think it would be a stupid move by the Kings to trade him away, especially with the Kings not having an abundance of young guards.

Rondo is 27 now, and with most of those previously mentioned draft picks coming in a few years, he could be aged 30 by the time the Celtics make the play-offs again. Will Rajon want to stay that long, or will he trade away to try and win a second ring to add to his previous one from 2008 ? Only time can tell.

Will Rondo stick around through the Celtics' difficult period ?

[Update : Since first writing this post, it has been rumoured that Rondo is on the trade block, with the Knicks, Raptors and Kings all interested]