Trades will impact NBA betting futures
By: Adam Markowitz
The NBA trading deadline is less than a week away, and we know that there are inevitably going to be some moves, some big and some small, that could really change the landscaping of NBA betting action.
Of course, all eyes are going to be fixated on the Denver Nuggets and what they're going to do with Carmelo Anthony. 'Melo has made it very clear that he wants out of Denver, and that he would prefer to be with the New York Knicks. Donnie Walsh has made his intentions clear that he doesn't want to be put in a position where he has to mortgage the future and the core of the team for the right to bring Anthony to the Big Apple, which is why the two teams are clearly at an impasse right now.
The last words that we heard on this move as of Friday (Feb. 18) is that the Nuggets want to see most likely three coming back from among the group that includes Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields and Timofey Mozgov, at least one, if not two first-round draft picks, and Raymond Felton. In exchange, Denver would return to New York Anthony, Chauncey Billups and whatever pieces to the puzzle would be done to make the deal work under the salary cap.
It's obvious that this is the move that 'Melo wants, as it would make New York a super contender right now. However, it's hard to want to mess with the chemistry of a young team like New York has, especially one that has really made tremendous leaps and bounds this year. Sure, Anthony alongside Amare Stoudemire will be great together, but we're not sure that New York would really be better off with a starting five of Stoudemire, Billups, Anthony and some combination of Chandler, Gallinari, Fields, and potentially Toney Douglas.
The New Jersey Nets are back in this discussion as well, which may or may not make a huge impact this year. The Nets would be surrendering a huge package of players that includes rookie Derrick Favors and a host of others, along with up to four first-round draft picks in order to acquire Anthony, Billups and potentially Shelden Williams.
It goes without saying though, that New Jersey would probably be in better shape with this new lineup, especially since this is a franchise that hasn't had much to cheer about lately.
It's also not totally unthinkable that the Nets, even at 17-40 going into the All-Star break, could catch some fire and run down one of the last playoff spots in the East, which could make things awfully uncomfortable for the teams at the top. Jersey is still a ways out of it, 8.5-games behind the Indiana Pacers who currently sit in the No. 8 seed, but odds have it, going 18-7 over the last 25 games of the year would probably get the job done.
Believe it or not though, there are other trades that could be made before Thursday's deadline. The Memphis Grizzlies have been playing great ball, but they would love to wrap OJ Mayo into a package to be able to bring a great, veteran piece back for the playoff push.
The Phoenix Suns have been entertaining offers for Steve Nash as well, a move that appears to be inevitable, either now or at the end of the regular season. The Suns might be playing "Let's Make a Deal" again with the Orlando Magic to send Nash off to Mickey Mouse's house, though those prospects seem to be thinning out.
Expect to see the Portland Trail Blazers do something, though we're not so sure how dramatic that something will be. Devin Harris, who is seeing his name floating around in this Carmelo Anthony drama, might be on his way to Portland in exchange for Andre Miller and potentially one of the excess big men that the Blazers have to offer.