Denver Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony is but the latest NBA megastar to reportedly wish for a trade to the Orlando Magic. Ken Berger reports, via this email to his CBS colleague Matt Moore, that "the Magic are believed to be at the top of [Anthony]'s list."
If this line sounds familiar, it should, given the multitude of reports earlier this summer about New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul wanting to force a trade to Orlando. Berger reported parts of that narrative as well.
The difference in the two situations, as Josh Robbins points out, is that Anthony has leverage, while Paul does not. Anthony will be a free agent next summer and the Nuggets risk losing him for nothing if they do not deal him before February. Further, the Nuggets are believed to be exploring trade possibilities for Anthony.
Robbins also reports that Magic president Otis Smith said he has not engaged the Nuggets, who do not have a GM at the moment, in trade discussions for Anthony. For what it's worth, the folks behind HoopsHype's Twitter account don't trust him.
Moore believes that the Miami Heat's power play this summer, which brought All-Stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade, inspired Anthony to seek a trade. Here's how:
If Anthony were to be traded to a new team, that team could then extend him under the current CBA. And that feeds into the last connection between Anthony and the Miami Triad. The allure of getting everything you want, how you want it. With a trade, Anthony can find himself in a new location in title contention, and get the extension he wants. It's the best of all worlds.
Anthony, 26, is a seven-year veteran with career averages of 24.7 points and 6.2 boards. The points average, incidentally, is fifth among active players.