Here are the latest NBA trade rumors floating around the league today, starting with Carmelo Anthony denying the claim that he would only sign an extension if traded to the Knicks and followed by a few other rumors I found mildly interesting this afternoon.

Other topics:

  • Are the Nets better off avoiding Carmelo Anthony?

  • Will the Magic make a deadline deal for Gilbert Arenas?

  • Would the Grizzlies trade O.J. Mayo?

  • Is Andre Iguodala headed to Cleveland?

  • How about Antawn Jamison in Phoenix?

Here we go…

(NOTE: To read the entire article from the original source please click on the links provided)

Carmelo Anthony was said to have given the Nuggets an ultimatum after their loss to New York on Sunday concerning his contract status but has since denied those claims. Per Fanhouse:

…But Anthony emphatically denied that report.

  • “No,” Anthony said when asked if there’s any truth to it. “I haven’t talked to Masai (Ujiri, the Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations) about who I would sign an extension with, and who I want to sign with. I’ve never had that conversation.”*

Anthony said returning to Denver is still a long-term option.

  • “Yes,” Anthony said of there still being a possibility he could sign the extension with the Nuggets. “Yes, it is. My options are open. That doesn’t mean I’m not (going to sign it with Denver). That doesn’t mean I am. My options are open.”*

Prior to speaking with FanHouse, Anthony spoke to several reporters. He was asked if he wants to stay in Denver.

  • “Of course,” said Anthony, who said he’s feeling much better after missing the two games prior to Sunday with knee inflammation. “I’ve been here, man, for seven years. It’s my eighth season. I call this thing home. If you’ve been any place for eight years, that’s going to be home. That’s what you call home. So this community embraced me like I was one of their own. So, of course.”*

MY TAKE: Carmelo is proving to be one of the biggest drama-queens this side of LeBron James and continues to shoot himself in the foot. This is no way to treat the fan-base you have been around for seven years. Either decide you want out and inform Denver management so they can attempt to salvage your value or surprise everyone and commit to the Nuggets. Enough already!

**That being said, I bet the standing ovation and applause you were welcomed to in New York was pretty awesome, huh? **

The folks at CBS Sports say that New Jersey needs to bail on potential Carmelo deal:

*Meanwhile, the Nets are hijacking themselves, their season, and their future, trying to figure out how to get Melo. Guys know they could be moved at any time, as soon as Melo gives his OK to an extend-and-trade to New Jersey. But what’s worse is that the way that the Nets are still showing interest in a player who isn’t 100% interested in them. This isn’t to say that players don’t change their minds when they arrive somewhere. But it is to say that if you want to build a championship team, you need leadership that wants to take your team, your team to the title. And Anthony at this point is looking for a comfy situation where he can get good endorsement deals. It’s possible that in two years, the Nets will be in a position to offer that. But they can’t now.  *

  • Finally, this could end up being a blessing in disguise. In 2012, under whatever bizarre new CBA world we’re living in, the following players could be free agents: Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love, among others. While pulling Derrick Rose out of Chicago would require a pretty big crowbar, Paul and Howard have both shown reticence to commit to a team that won’t contend. Westbrook may eventually tire of being Robin to Durant’s Batman, and Kevin Love … well, Kevin Love plays for the Timberwolves.*

**MY TAKE: Anthony would not be happy in New Jersey and rumors from multiple sources say that Anthony would not sign an extension in New Jersey. It certainly makes sense for them to wait until 2012 when they have a better roster and are in a more positive light for free-agents. I say stay away, Avery. **

Will the Magic pull the trigger on a deal for Gilbert Arenas? From SBNation:

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel quotes Smith as saying that he hasn’t discussed a trade with the Wizards since June, and that even then it didn’t involve Arenas. Smith’s ties stem to when both were employees of the Golden State Warriors, where Smith worked in a front office that took Arenas in the second round in the 2001 NBA Draft. Since Arenas fell out of favor in Washington, the Magic has seemed a reasonable landing place, both because of Gil’s relationship and Smith and his penchant for explosive scoring, some Orlando is seen as needing.

Whether Arenas will be traded anytime soon remains a huge question, given the $60 million remaining on his contract. Gil has played in 14 of the Wizards’ 17 games this season, and while his shooting percentages are rough (.381 from the field, .365 on three-pointers) he has shown his signature penchant for feast-or-famine explosivity: he has two 30-point plus games (one against the Magic), and four games with less than 10 points.

MY TAKE: This story is around a week old but I firmly believe we might see a trade happen between the Wizards and Magic for Gilbert. The deal itself wouldn’t be too difficult as Arenas-for-Carter works pretty well on the salary front. I also happen to think, unlike some people, that Arenas needs a fresh start with a winning organization and Orlando needs an explosive scorer right now. Let’s not forget that Arenas is still young.

Would the Grizzlies bail on O.J. Mayo and Hasheem Thabeet so soon? Per ProBasketballTalk:

Trade rumors involving the Grizzlies are starting to swirl, but team brass put on ice Monday any notion that they are looking to deal guard O.J. Mayo and/or center Hasheem Thabeet.

One Internet report speculated that the team had given up on Thabeet, the No. 2 pick in 2009, and were actively shopping him. A different blog cited an unidentified source as declaring that Mayo could be headed to New York as soon as this week.

“We are not trying to trade O.J. or Hasheem,” said Griz owner Michael Heisley, who sat courtside Monday with Portland in town. “We haven’t had any conversations about them, and I should know because I’m the one making the decisions.”

Griz coach Lionel Hollins said trade rumors involving Mayo will persist because of his move to the bench. It should be pointed out, too, that Mayo has not asked to be dealt.

**MY TAKE: O.J. Mayo’s regression has been one of the most disappointing storylines of the season but I’m not sure how productive trading him right now would be. The Grizzlies do have a glut of young players at his position but wouldn’t it make more sense to deal Tony Allen? I know he just signed this year but would you give up a potential talent like Mayo? I don’t know if I would… yet. However, there is a rumor out there that Mayo might be needed as part of a mega-deal for the Knicks to acquire Anthony, so stay tuned. **

Is Andre Iguodala headed to Cleveland? The folks at CBS Sports think it’s a possibility:

League sources indicate the Philadelphia 76ers are attempting to trade guard/forward Andre Iguodala.

There is no active dialogue between the Sixers and Cavs right now, but a source said it was one to keep your eye on … He would fit nicely into the Cavs’ $14.5 million trade exception.

  • That trade exception, of course, was created by the departure of LeBron James to the Miami Heat this summer. That departure left the Cavs without a credible shot-creator and point-scorer on the wing, and without much reason for fans to continue to purchase tickets. Iguodala would fix those problems, and his price tag would like be worth it to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who is desperate for relevancy after getting humiliated (and humiliating himself) this past summer. *

  • The trade exception would be a nice flexibility play for the Sixers, but the price for Iguodala would likely be much higher. A draft pick and a young prospect, at the very least.*

MY TAKE: This might actually be a great fit for Iguodala but the jury is still out on whether he’s a true #1 - I actually think he would be a better fit for the Magic right now as a third-wheel. As with the Arenas-Carter deal the possibility exists that an Iguodala-Carter deal could work salary-wise and Iguodala would be a good fit defensively for Stan Van Gundy’s unit.

Finally, Antawn Jamison may be entering the twilight of his career but he can still be productive. Zach Lowe of Sports Illustrated explains why he might be a great fit with the Suns, among other teams:

The Suns have a glaring hole at power forward, and though Jamison isn’t a power player, he’d immediately become the Suns’ best defensive rebounder. As a stretch-4 with a serviceable three-point shot, he’d fit nicely in Phoenix’s offense.

The problem here — as it will be elsewhere — is that the Suns have nothing to offer the Cavaliers, unless Phoenix is willing to part with Jason Richardson’s huge expiring deal (it’s not). The Cavs obviously aren’t taking on Hedo Turkoglu’s disaster of a contract, and so we’re left to search for a three- or four-team deal someplace. Dealing for Jamison would also eliminate the cap space the Suns could have in the offseason should they renounce their rights to Richardson and Grant Hill.

**MY TAKE: The Suns indeed have a glaring need at power forward and Jamison could be just the guy. Everyone knows that this team will enter extreme rebuilding-mode once Nash hangs it up so why not risk acquiring Jamison while he still has something left to give? I like this move a lot - if only they had the right pieces. **

Until next time…