NBA Trade Rumors: Huge Three-Team Deal Could Send Kevin Love To Celtics, Carmelo Anthony To Cavs
While a lot of talk may be about whether Dwight Howard or Blake Griffin are going to be traded, there could end up being a huge, three-team deal that shifts a few other key NBA players. Right now, that deal appears to be centered around Kevin Love moving away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the Boston Celtics joining in and also the New York Knicks, who could ship out Carmelo Anthony. According to the NY Daily News, the Celtics and Cavaliers have discussed the deal, which is focused on Love. Preliminary discussions have also included the Knicks, which would include Anthony, but it would mean him waiving his no-trade clause to be sent to the Cavs. Carmelo Anthony has long said that he is committed to the New York Knicks and has had no intention of seeking a trade at all. That’s what he has said for years and for months this year as rumors have been swirling. Still, when asked on Friday about it, his answer wasn’t nearly as concrete as it has been in the past.
“Not yet. I’m pretty sure I’ll have that conversation with myself and my family and my team…but it’s not a conversation for right now.”
Not a conversation for “right now?” That’s something much different than Carmelo Anthony has said in the past, and it gives fans the idea that he may be open to it. Now, what would the Knicks get in this whole thing?
NBC Sports says that the Knicks would end up receiving draft picks and players in return for the loss of Anthony. One of those players is Timofey Mozgov, who oddly enough was sent away by the Knicks five years ago in the deal that got Anthony out of Denver. With Carmelo Anthony having his no-trade clause and now making it seem as if he is remotely interested in the deal, things get interesting. It’s well known that Anthony is good friends with LeBron James, and that could be a partnership made in heaven…at least for the Cavs.
Here’s what I’m hearing: #Knicks unlikely to move Melo but #Celtics have assets to draw NYK interest. Melo intrigued about playing w LBJ — gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) February 13, 2016
The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, and it’s well known that the Knicks are looking at what could improve a team that is currently 23-32 and out of the playoffs. New York does want to center the team around 20-year-old Kristaps Porzingis, and this trade could help a lot.
Kevin Love is averaging 15.7 points and 10.3 rebounds-per-game, and he could easily strengthen a team that is in the center of the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Boston Celtics are 32-23 and in third place in the East as the All-Star break arrives. While this trade talk is spreading and getting a lot of press, there are some who believe it isn’t going to happen and is nothing more than speculation.
League source says nothing is “happening” in Celtics attempt to get Kevin Love via three-team mega deal. — Mark Murphy (@Murf56) February 13, 2016
While nothing is certain or confirmed in place, the Cavaliers honestly seem like the team that would come out on top in all of this. Looking at Kevin Love’s numbers, they’re impressive, but Melo’s are better. Carmelo Anthony is averaging 21.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists-per-game, and combining him with LeBron James is just instantly furthering the lead the Cavs have in the East. The NBA trade rumors are really heating up with the deadline just a few short days away, and this is one of the biggest possibilities on the table. Carmelo Anthony to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kevin Love to the Boston Celtics, and the New York Knicks joining in could make things very interesting.
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