Over the past month or so, the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers have really started to struggle against some of the best teams in the league like the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and the arch rival Boston Celtics. Even though the Lakers are well over .500 at 36-16, the consensus in Los Angeles is that a change needs to be made in order to compete with the best of the best in the West and the East.
The one name that has gotten talked about a lot in Los Angeles in terms of being traded is Ron Artest. With Artest's numbers being down in virtually all categories, the Lakers seem ready to ship their defensive specialist elsewhere. The rumors flying around right now is that Ron Artest could be headed to the Charlotte Bobcats for either Stephen Jackson or Gerald Wallace. Both are great players, but I believe Wallace would be the better option as Jackson can do more harm than good.
Reportedly, that deal to Charlotte might be dead as Artest has said that he wouldn't want to play for the Bobcats, but another much bigger deal has emerged.
The biggest name on the NBA trade market right now is without doubt the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony. As arguably one of the most dominant scorers in the league, Melo has a huge upside and has a lot of basketball left in him being just 26 years old. With that being said, a lot of teams around the league became very interested in the Nuggets' leading scorer when they learned that he neglected to sign a three-year contract extension for $65 million and wanted to be traded.
Even though Carmelo Anthony was interested in getting out of the Mile High City, he only wanted to be traded to the New York Knicks. Unfortunately, the Knicks haven't had the kind of pieces that the Nuggets wanted in return and as a result the deal have fallen apart multiple times.
With trades to both the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets falling apart, the Los Angeles Lakers have taken an interest in the superstar forward by offering up promising young center Andrew Bynum.
It is uncertain what other players would be involved in the deal, but if it does go down, the Lakers would almost certainly be the favorites to win it all once again. The question now would be whether or not Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony can coexist.
Comments
Melo to LA sounds interesting but the best option for the Lakers, IMO, is to stay with the current line-up for now. They've been in a slump before, nothing new! All they need is rest and extra motivation and bring it all out come the playoffs.
If they plan to shake up the franchise, wait til Dwight Howard becomes a free agent and then go all out!
I agree, there's nothing new about the Lakers slump, but this team isn't getting any younger and Kobe only has a few good years left in him.
Melo is 26 with a lot of good years left in him and who knows what he could do with players like Kobe, Pau and LO around him!
I don't think D-Howard is coming to LA, but if this deal falls through, I think the Lakers could go after the big fella.
We need to get Chris Paul
That would be sweet! CP3 would be a perfect addition at the point, but right now Melo is their best option.
your lame. The lakers dont need a point in this traingle offense they run. They've never had a great point guard unless your 6'9 230lb. Go get melo trade artest and bynum to sweeten the deal and free up the money to get melo. chris paul's numbers have been going down. he is good but will not get better
@lakerfan The triangle might be done in LA after Phil leaves after this season. I get the feeling that we might see some drastic changes next year, unless Brian Shaw or Jim Clemons takes over the head coaching gig.
I do agree that they should get Melo though. Seems like the smart move right now if they can pull it off.
i have not liked bynum since he has came to the lakers...should have let him go along time ago....guy is always hurt
Can't agrue with you there. This kid is a stud when healthy, but he is never 100% and his trade value goes down every year. If the Lakers can get Melo for him, they have to do it!
Get melo now for artest n bynum. Then trade pau and lamar for dwight next year..Plan for the future to keep the dynasty going... Dwight,melo and barnes down low and brown plus cp3 upfront will be our future dynasty... no trades for paul cause he'll leave as a free agent..
I agree with the first line, but the second one is stretch to say the least! Pau and LO for D-Howard is crazy!
bynum is the key to the champonship when we went against boston in 08 we lost why because bynum wasnt there last 2 years bynums here and we won
I agree that when Bynum is healthy that he plays a major role in the paint for the Lakers, but it is the dependability of this kid and whether or not he can stay healthy. And as for the Finals against Boston, the Celtics were without Perkins this time around and the Lakers still were barely able to pull it out in seven games.
Bynum already missed 24 games to start this season and I won't be surprised if he goes down with another injury before the playoffs. At just 23 years old, he shouldn't be getting hurt this frequently.
When he is healthy, Bynum is a stud and arguably amongst the best at his position in the NBA, but they just can't count on him. Melo trade makes sense and gives the team a bright future when Kobe Bryant decides to call it quits.
If the Lakers do trade Bynum and Artest for Melo, im pretty sure Gasol would move to the center position. Wouldn't the lakers struggle more because instead of Bynum, Gasol would have to guard Dwight Howard, Kendrick Perkins, etc.
I think they might struggle more defensively as they will have trouble defending the paint like the do now, but if Bynum goes down one more time, the Lakers will have wished they pulled the trigger.
Its hard to say whether or not the Lakers even have a shot at Melo anymore though as the Knicks seem to have the advantage. If New York gives up Felton, Melo is headed to the Big Apple!
I think they should do it know bynum and shannon for anthony and billups that seems fair
I agree, especially after the loss to the Cavs. Something needs to be done in Lakerland.
kobe,melo,lo,n gasol all on the same team tht is sumthin seriouse yu think heat has a team butt if we gett melo then look out lakers look lik da team 2 beat once again. thy wuld b so deadly team.
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