The biggest news circulating around the NBA is where will 'Melo end-up?  It appears that his days in Denver are all about numbered.  Several have him joining Amare' in NY.   'Melo obviously spent his playing days in Syracuse and spends quite a bit of time there.  I believe he could handle the intense scrutiny and still flourish.

Then, also…it was mentioned that Chris Paul would soon join those two in NY and become a formable foe to counter the Dream Trio in Miami….  This obviously would shift all the power from the Western to the Eastern Conference and would enable both those franchises have total supremacy for many years to come.

What is everyone's thought on 'Melo possibly joining the Knicks and perhaps Chris Paul eventually being "Big Apple" bound himself?  Which trio would be better?  To me….  Amare>Bosh, Paul=James, and Melo>Wade.  

This could all just be mere speculation over extreme hypothetics, but something to chew on and would obviously have HUGE Fantasy Basketball ramifications.

I honestly hope it wouldn't be New Jersey for Melo's sake.  True, his fantasy numbers would go through the roof, but he wouldn't have many complementary players enough for him to make the Nets a winner (besides Brooke Lopez).

Plus, the Nets would take a MAJOR hit in who they would be packaging in to acquire Melo.   True, they drafted Favors, but obviously he hasn't seen any NBA action.  

The Russian Billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov failed during this past summer's FA frenzy to land that "FRANCHISE" player and I honestly don't know if he will lure anyone else…The Nets will always play 2nd Fiddle to the Knicks and won't attract the "Big Ticket" FAs that the Knicks already have in Amare' and will do with several others…Plus, imagine the marketing prospects for 'Melo…. No way would he overlook being on the Madison Avenue scene….

The Bulls are in the picture, however, Denver demands Joakim Noah in return…..  If you were the Bulls..would you comply w/the Nuggets demand?

Noah has blossomed w/in the top-10 Cs in the NBA and the Bulls only other C on their active roster is rookie, Omer Asik….That would create such a huge void for the Bulls regardless if they even add Melo….They would be forced to play small ball…I know Rose/Melo combination would make everyone salivate, but Taj Gibson and James Johnson are rapidly developing.

True, the Bulls added some bulk by acquiring Boozer and Kurt Thomas, however, Boozer is still very injury prone and Thomas should have already retired a few years ago…….. 

It's a difficult decision for Bulls GM Gar Forman to make, glad I'm not in his shoes…..

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/s…..rks-092410

The New Jersey Nets were on the verge of acquiring Carmelo Anthony from Denver on Friday after the three-time NBA All-Star agreed to terms, the New York Post reported.

The Nets would get Anthony and possibly point guard D.J. Augustin from

Charlotte at the price of first-round pick Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris and at least one future first-rounder.

Anthony agreeing to a three-year, $65 million extension — an absolute

prerequisite for the Nets in the deal — was the biggest holdup, but

several league sources confirmed the 26-year-old had said yes to that.

But there remained details to be worked out.

The Nets were determined to get the deal finalized before the Nuggets reported to training camp Monday.

The four teams all seemed in apparent agreement on the particulars of the deal.

Anthony had made no secret of his desire to play for the New York Knicks, but they lacked the pieces to make it happen.

His next choice was the Chicago Bulls, who quashed the deal by refusing to include center Joakim Noah.

The Nets apparently appeal with their scheduled 2012-13 move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, where Anthony was born.

The Nets, if the deal gets finalized, could roll out a front line of Anthony, power forward Troy Murphy and center Brook Lopez.

I personally like this trade for Melo and the Nets.  I know I initially said that Melo wouldn't benefit from going to NJ, but I overlooked Troy Murphy.   Melo, Murphy, and Brooke Lopez form a solid trio, but obviously it doesn't come to rivaling those who took their talents or returned to South Beach.  Murphy has been a relative double/double machine on some rather sub-par teams, but his will increase.  Fantasy impact on Melo? He's still a top-10 (if even better) player since he still will be relied upon to average 26+ PPG and have solid rebounding totals.  He would have taken a major hit fantasy-wise in Chicago, but quite honestly he should have waited longer and gone to the Knicks and joined Amar'e there.  If that would have happened, that would have enabled the Knicks to lure Chris Paul to join that duo and they would have countered the Heat, but of course that now won't materialize.   NJ is even better than Melo remaining w/the Nuggets since they could have never acquired that 3rd player to help him and Nene go onto the next level…. I will later on discuss the fantasy impact on the other teams/parties involved (probably on a separate thread), but now the Melo trading saga is finally over.  This will be the outset of the evaluating period….We will definitely monitor his progress…

Well.. I  guess I reacted too prematurely……  It appears that Melo won't be dealt until just prior to start of the season….Still definitely something to monitor….His best bet is to end-up w/the Knicks..that would absolutely be Melo's best case scenario……

It appears that the 'Melo trade rumors have halted for now, however, this article offers rather intriguing scenarios that were either once considered or still have potential to materialize:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/s…..melo-trade

"Despite that obstacle, the Nuggets have escalated their efforts
to shop other teams' players around the league in an effort to
see what assets could be received for them after acquiring them in
an Anthony trade. Denver has explored such an avenue for the Clippers' Chris Kaman, the Bulls' Luol Deng, the Nets' Devin Harris and the Bobcats' Gerald Wallace, sources say. After extending center Joakim Noah's
contract, however, the Bulls remain a long shot to enter into the
Melo equation. The Bobcats continue to be reluctant to trade
Wallace unless they're getting Anthony, who wouldn't sign an extension
in Charlotte.

Kaman was discussed in a Melo
swap about a month ago, sources say, but the discussions died
quickly when it became evident that the Nuggets wanted Eric Gordon
in addition to one of the most valuable first-round picks in the
league — Minnesota's pick, which is top-10 protected in 2011 and
unprotected in '12. Given that they have Nene, the Nuggets didn't
value Kaman beyond his contract as a tool to make the deal work
under league trade rules; Kaman makes $11.8 million this season
and $12.7 million in '11-12. The Clippers, sources say, would
favor a deal that does not include Kaman — particularly since
keeping him would enhance Anthony's belief that he would be part
of a top-tier team in the West with a core of Kaman, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin
and himself. The wild card in that scenario is Anthony's affinity
for Los Angeles, which is shared by his wife, actress La La
Vasquez.

As previously reported, among the other
established players Denver has targeted as having decent
replacement value for Anthony are Anderson Varejao and Andre Iguodala. The chances of Anthony signing an extension with Cleveland
are "zippo," according to one source who said you can "scratch
Varejao off the list." Several weeks ago, the Nuggets asked the
Sixers about acquiring Iguodala in a deal that would send Anthony
to New Jersey, but the proposal was rejected. Currently, there is
"nothing happening" with the Sixers on that front, according to a
source.

Another team that could emerge as a facilitator in an Anthony trade is the Pistons. Sources say the Nuggets inquired several weeks ago about the availability of Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince
— with a particular emphasis on Prince, whose $11.1 million
contract is expiring and would provide a cost-cutting tool for the
Nuggets. At the time, Pistons president Joe Dumars quickly
dismissed the invitation. But sources say there's a chance
Detroit's posture could change with reports this week that the
team will be sold to Tigers and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch."

Just imagine 'Melo playing for the Clippers along side Baron Davis and Blake Griffin?  They would have instantly become the Miami Heat of the West…..  

The Pistons scenario might have changed somewhat w/the recent Jerebko injury….Definitely so much drama for something that might ultimately end-up meaning nothing whatsoever…..