Like many of my fellow stiffs, I've been worried about the future of the Nuggets for the entire summer now. After reading many posts and media reports that suggest players such as Noah, Lopez, Gordon, and Griffin are "too much to trade for Melo," I've decided to retaliate by offering up some lopsided trades that favor the Nuggets in scenarios that will keep Melo in Denver. I admit that these suggested trades are not in the realm of likelihood, however, they seem just as plausable to me as some of the ridiculous "Melo for Eric Dampeir" BS provided by the media. Hopefully the below trades are just a tad bit more realistic. Even though many of these trades are highly improbable, at least they are not completely ridiculous. I resisted putting something like Howard for Kmart, or Roy for J.R. and Balkman.
Secondly, if you have already suggested such trades, please don't think I'm trying to steal your idea, I either didn't see it, or I did see it and tweeked it a little and still want to hear your opinions on what I came up with. Lastly, my NBA knowledge is not the best, I am not fully aware of the current conditions of such players as Tayshaun Prince and Brand. I'm also not aware of how good M. Gasol and T. Prince's relationships are with their respective front offices. I am also unaware of how good a defender Gasol is for the Grizzlies etc. I humbly request that my fellow stiffs can educate (and criticize) me.
Trade 1: Screwing over desperate teams
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=24hu6b8
Nuggs Get:
Iggy
Brand
M. Gasol
Prince
Grizzlies Get:
Nene
Villanueva
Sixers Get:
JR Smith
Kmart
Pistons Get:
Z. Randolph
Our lineup would look like this:
Billups/Ty /Carter
Iggy/AAA
Melo/Prince/Balkman
Brand/Harrington/Williams
M. Gasol/Birdman
If we pulled-off such lop-sided trades and still didn't make it to the finals then that would mean that the Nuggets are a cursed franchise. With such a stacked squad, Coach Karl would be on the hot seat unless he delivered a ship or two.
Likelihood of Trade: VERY ULIKELY!! I don't see Memphis shipping out Gasol and Randolph for Nene and Villanueva. I also don't see Detroit giving up Prince and Villanueva for Randolph's expiring contract although Detroit would be more likely to go for this trade than Memphis. Our only hope would be if Memphis tanked next year and their FO felt like Randolph and Gasol will leave through Free Agency next summer. Iggy and Brand are a possibility as many of you discussed on other forums.
Pros: The Nuggets would have the deepest team in the league, forget about Miami/LA/Boston. This team would create matchup nightmares for their opponents with people like Prince, Harrington, and Lawson coming off the bench! Iggy would be a legit second scoring option for the nuggets, taking pressure off of Chuancey and Melo. Gasol, Brand, Harrington, and Prince would also respectably contribute to the offense on any given night. Prince and Iggy together with Billups and AAA would lock down the opponents wings while Gasol would grab the rebounds. At the very least, such trades should convince Melo not to opt out next year (Assuming we resign Gasol and Prince).
Cons: If Gasol were to get injured, the Nuggets would become a very small team. Also, if Gasol, Prince, Melo, and AAA don't resign, the rebuilding process will be restrained by Brands max contract.
Trade 2: Increasing our size
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=24b5hw7
Nuggz Get:
M. Gasol
C. Villanueva
T. Prince
Wizzards Get:
Grizzlies Get:
Chris Anderson
Pistons Get:
Our lineup would look like this:
Gasol/Vinuella
Nene/Harrington
Melo/Prince
J.R./Afflalo
Billups/Lawson
Likelihood of Trade: EXTREMELY UNLIKELY!! Although the Wizzards and Nuggets would be thrilled with this trade and the Grizzlies do need a point guard, I highly doubt the Grizzlies would give up their starting front court for Birdman and the convict point guard.
Pros: Nuggets would finally have the length desperately needed to compete against LA/SA and other Western conference powers. The Nuggets would also improve on the defensive end with T. Prince reuniting with Billups. M. Gasol, Villanueva, and Nene would be a good match up against Bynum, Odem, and Gasol. Afflalo and Prince could guard Kobe. The depth of such a team would allow Karl to rest Melo, Billups, and the bigs to ensure they are ready for a playoff run.
Cons: Nuggets would lose a great defender in Kmart and the wonderful the energy that Chris Anderson brings to the home crowd. The Nuggets would also be stuck with C. Villanueva for several years while Gasol could foreseeably leave as a free agent after the season ends.
Trade 3: Life after Melo
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=29fa27y
Nuggets Get:
Noah
Battier
P. Patterson
Rockets Get:
Bulls Get:
Our line up would be
Noah/Birdman
Nene/Kmart*/Williams
Battier/Harrington/Balkman
AAA/Smith
Billups/Ty/Carter
Likelihood of Trade: SOMEWHAT LIKELY!! If the Nuggets want to begin the rebuilding process they will want expiring contracts and young talent as many of you already know. Although all three teams would be reluctant to do this trade (Bulls not wanting to let go of Noah, Rockets not wanting Deng's contract, and the Nuggets not wanting to admit Melo is as good as gone), If the Rockets and the Bulls struggle early in the season, I think this trade becomes much more realistic.
Pros: Nuggs will be able to get a head start on the rebuilding process. If this trade materialized, at the end of the season the Nuggets would still have Kmart, J.R., AAA, Battier and possibly Billups and Nene's contracts coming off the books. This would allow the Nuggets the maximum flexibility in rebuilding their team. Of course such a trade would also have to give the Nuggets a draft pick or two.
Cons: We lose Melo. Enough said.
Now let the criticizing begin!!!!!!!!!!
