With the NBA All-Star break fast approaching and the trade deadline right around the corner, it should be no surprise that the rumors are beginning to heat up. There are a number of names on the open market that could be on the move in the very near future with New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony at the top of that list. Here is a look at the latest NBA trade rumors including potential destinations.
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
The Melo trade rumors have been heating up over the past couple of weeks but moving him to a contender isn’t as simple as it might seem on the surface. The fact that the relationship between Anthony and the Knicks has soured so badly should hurt his overall value on the market and his no-trade clause could make it even more difficult to find the right deal. The latest rumors have the Los Angeles Clippers as the frontrunners to land Anthony but the Knicks could need a third team to emerge and help facilitate a deal, which has led to speculation that the Boston Celtics could become involved. It seems like a good fit for Anthony to join his good friend Chris Paul in Los Angeles and the Clippers could create an intriguing return with Jamal Crawford, J.J. Redick and Austin Rivers potentially in the mix. With the NBA trade deadline right around the corner we can definitely expect the Anthony trade rumors to continue with the Clippers as the most likely destination for him right now.
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are looking to clean house right now with the majority of their veteran players and after moving Kyle Korver to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season it seems like Millsap is the next in line to be traded. According to reports, Atlanta shopped Millsap earlier in the season but decided to pull him off the market after they didn’t receive a deal they felt made it worth moving him. However, with the trade deadline around the corner there is a good chance at least one or two teams will call. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors appear to be the top options to make a deal for Millsap right now with the Raptors the most likely destination for the veteran big man. Toronto needs to make a move to improve its chances of contending with the Cavaliers for top spot in the Eastern Conference so it will be very interesting to see if they can get a deal done before the trade deadline.
Shelvin Mack, Utah Jazz
Speaking of the Cavaliers, they are reportedly very interested in making a deal with the Utah Jazz to acquire the veteran guard Mack. The defending NBA champions are 6-7 in the month of January and could be operating with a sense of urgency to get something done after LeBron James called out management and asked for more help ahead of the deadline. Mack could provide a major boost to Cleveland’s bench production and with the Golden State Warriors only getting better there is no doubt the Cavaliers will want to improve their depth for another championship run this season.
Jameer Nelson, Denver Nuggets
Another name that could be on Cleveland’s radar is Nelson, who could be an option to back up Kyrie Irving. LeBron was very specific when he told Cleveland.com that “we gotta get a point guard. It’s my last time saying it. We need a point guard.” While that quote could make it tougher for the Cavaliers management team to find a reasonable trade partner, Nelson’s name is one that has become that much more popular in trade rumors over the past few weeks. Nelson is definitely an intriguing veteran option and it seems as though Cleveland is the most likely destination for him right now. While he’s in the twilight of his career, he does have plenty of playoff experience. He’s a shooter and a scorer, and could give the Cavs bench the boost they’ve been looking for (or at least the boost that James believes that the team needs).
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