Carmelo Anthony Trade Gets Tricky

Rumors about a possible Carmelo Anthony trade have been spreading around even before the 2010 NBA season kicked off. The New York Knicks were the main team involved in those rumors until recently, when serious talks between the Denver Nuggets and the New Jersey Nets began behind closed doors. Unfortunately, these discussions did not stay private for long; details of the possible trade have been discussed by several reputable news outlets.

According to a Yahoo sports report, the Denver Nuggets were angered by the way the Nets handled the situation. They threatened to trade Anthony to the Knicks if the Nets management didn't stop speaking to the press. Whether or not the Nuggets really made the threat is another story by itself. ESPN later reported the threats were never made, after conversing with sources. While some might feel getting Carmelo Anthony will be a good deal for the Nets, this arrangement has already showed signs it might not be the smartest move.

Earlier in the season, ESPN reported that Carmelo would not sign a contract extension with any team he was traded to besides the Knicks. Any trade which sends Antony to a team other than the Knicks will surely be a huge gamble for the receiving organization.

Bad trades are not uncommon in the NBA, and almost seem to be a part of the cycle. Most people remember the Charlotte Hornets giving up their rights to Kobe Bryant for Vlade "Floppy" Divac. In retrospect, that was probably one of the worst trades in NBA history.

When the Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat, after a season of bickering between Shaq and Kobe, things didn't turn out the way Kobe might have thought. The Lakers ended up struggling the entire season while the Miami Heat went all the way to a NBA championship.

Even when trades are carefully thought out and balanced, they can still end up going badly for either of the teams. When the Detroit Pistons traded Grant Hill for Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins, many basketball analysts felt it was a fair trade. Unfortunately, Hill was plagued with injuries throughout his stay with the Orlando Magic.

With the history of blockbuster trades going bad in the NBA, the Nets need to tread carefully as they proceed. They have a lot to lose, while the Nuggets have a chance to pick up new talent with a player who has indicated he doesn't want to continue his career in Denver. Unless they can get Carmelo Anthony to do a sign-and-trade, the Nets will likely get the short end of the stick. The lure of playing with his buddy, Amar'e Stoudemire, at Madison Square Garden is something Carmelo probably won't pass up.

Sources:
Adrian Wojnarowski, " Nuggets Threaten to Trade 'Melo to NY " Yahoo Sports
Marc Stein, Chris Broussard, " Carmelo Anthony Deal Still Lags " ESPN
Chris Sheridan, " Carmelo Extension Hinges on N.Y. Trade " ESPN
Matt Morello, " 10 Worst NBA trades of All Time " Bleacher Report