NBA Trade Rumors: Warriors Showing Interest in Nene Hilario

Another day, more trade rumors... With the NBA trade deadline about 2 weeks away (Feb. 24th) you can expect to hear a ton of names thrown around in all types of crazy trade rumors, some more valid than others. Today we have an interesting one involving the Golden State Warriors being interested in acquiring Nene from the Nuggets, according to this report from the Mercury News. Here's some info regarding the rumor:

According to multiple sources, the Warriors have inquired about Nene, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound center from Brazil. But the Nuggets would have to agree to trade him, and Nene would have to agree to a contract extension because he is a pending free agent.

"We have to look at what we have," Warriors coach Keith Smart said. "We can't wish and hope for something we don't have."

Nene, who is averaging 15.3 points per game on an NBA-best 64.4 percent shooting, would seem to quench the Warriors' thirst for inside scoring.

There are a few observations I can derive from this trade rumor. 1.) The Nuggets will be involved in more trade scenarios than any team in recent memory. The team is aging and hasn't gotten much better over the years and you have the Carmelo Anthony situation brewing. 2.) With some of their better players approaching free agency the Nuggets need to find out what kind of return they can get for those players instead of running the rick of losing them with nothing to show for it.

This particular trade scenario would definitely benefit the Warriors who could use a reliable scorer who can finish effectively in the paint (evident by his league-leading 64% field goal percentage). Andris Biedrins can't cut it and David Lee is more of a pick & roll/pop type of big forward. The Warrior have some youth in their front court with Ekpe Udoh and Brandan Wright but they need time to develop. So it's a matter of what Golden State would need to give up for Nene, and I don't think he's worth brokering your future for. The Warriors already have a decent young core group on the perimeter with Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, Dorell Wright and Reggie Williams. I think their biggest area of need is an experienced head coach instead of a trade.

We can go ahead and file this one in the "unlikely rumor" category, along with those crazy Carmelo to the Lakers rumors that set the internet abuzz yesterday.

-ALR

Video: Carmelo Anthony Speaks On Trade Rumors

Will it be the New York Knicks or the New Jersey Nets? Madison Garden or Brooklyn in a couple years? Amidst the numorous trade rumors that have been swirling around Carmelo Anthony since July, he has surprising handled the media like a "pro"fessional. In this interview with ESPN's Coleen Dominguez, Carmelo speaks on the rumors and his "ultimate dream" to play at home in NY. Here's the video:



#6 should get 'Melo's PR people on the horn ASAP. I respect how Anthony says just enough to make you wonder without saying too much. Who wouldn't want to play professional sports in their home town? The latest trade rumor has Anthony going to NJ in a 15 player mega-deal, but we'll have to wait and see if anything actually happens before the February 24th NBA trade deadline. The Knicks have been playing well this season but another scorer of Carmelo's caliber would definitely improve their chances in the East, while a Anthony move to the Nets will make them better, but they would still be a season away from contention.

Either way, whoever ends up with Carmelo Anthony will land one of the top 5 scorers in the league, hands down. So far this season Anthony is averaging 23.8 ppg and a career high 8.2 rpg.

-ALR

Kobe to Carmelo "Do What Makes You Happy"

With all the latest buzz regarding Carmelo Anthony's future with the Denver Nuggets (there is a rumored 17 player blockbuster trade brewing) Kobe Brynat, one of 'Melo's best friends in the NBA, has some advice to lend the pending free agent superstar. Per this story on newsday.com, Kobe says he has told Carmelo to "do what makes you happy". Here is a little of the story:

Anthony has been extremely careful with what he says and does, mainly because he wants to avoid the firestorm of criticism and backlash that met LeBron James when he left Cleveland for Miami last summer. But Bryant said Carmelo shouldn't be concerned about pleasing everyone.

" LeBron did it, and obviously, the way he went about it -- a lot of people off," Bryant said. "But the core of the decision was that he wanted to do what made him happy. I think Carmelo should do the same thing."

Granted, Carmelo has taken the high road in the media and repeatedly said that he has never requested a trade, but EVERYONE knows the chances of him being a Nugget for the 2011-2012 season are slim and none. I for one can't blame him as the Nuggets just don't seem to be able to get past the top teams in the west and an opportunity to play for the Knicks might be too good to pass up. The NJ Nets have been the team most actively pursuing Anthony and with them moving to Brooklyn soon that may not be a bad choice for Melo either, but they don't have the flair or complimentary star power offered by the Knicks (Amar'e Stoudemire is kinda good).

Kobe took a lot of heat back when he made trade demands before deciding to stay with the Lakers, but if you remember all he was saying was that he wanted the Lakers to be committed to improving their chances of competing. I wouldn't doubt Melo feels the same way but just doesn't see it happening in Denver. Either way, whoever lands Carmelo Anthony would be getting one of the top scorers in the league, hands down.

And as long as Carmelo is happy with his decision that is all that really matters, right? Unless you're a Nuggets fan (but nobody really cares about them anyway)

-ALR

Video: J.R. Smith Makes Gary Neal Famous (Dunk Bait!!)

First off, Ime Udoka owes Gary Neal an apology for letting J.R. Smith cross him up and get to the lane with less than 3 seconds on the clock. Then Gary Neal owes J.R. Smith an apology for attempting to take a charge right under the rim with less than 1 second on the clock. Then J.R. Smith owes Gary Neal some proceeds from the posters that result from this dunk.

That should sum it up.

-ALR

Denver Nuggets Coach Says Kobe Bryant is "The Jordan Of This Era"

Per this story by the Denver Post, Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl, one of the longest tenured coaches in the NBA, had some very high remarks at today's shootaround regarding Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant, before the Nuggets play the Los Angeles tonight on TNT:

“He’s a top-5, top-10 player in all-time. He’s established himself of the Michael Jordan of this era. His excellence and championship mentality is pretty obvious almost every night he plays, and I think that’s what fans want to see.”

That's quite a compliment from Karl. We all have heard the comparisons to Kobe and Michael Jordan and for a coach who has had to gameplan against both players to make such a comparison is definitely saying something. Karl has been a NBA head coach since 84-85 and has a career winning percentage of almost .600 so he might know a little bit about what he's talking about.

The defending champion Lakers are 8-0 so far this season and off to their best start in years, while the Nuggets are currently 4-4 and coming off an embarrassing 144-113 loss the Pacers back on 11/9, although the Nuggets always play the Lakers tough in the regular season. Expect tonight's matchup to be a good test for the Lakers.

But we'll save the Kobe/Jordan debate for another day...

-ALR

What Up, Gangsta!

Meet Earl Smith III, also known as J.R. Smith. New Jersey native. Professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets. Millionaire.

And now, allegedly an internet gang-banger. "Blood" to be specific.

Smith was photographed throwing up Blood gang signs during a night out on the town. The night soon became infamous because he put out a Tweet earlier in the day, asking for women followers to join him and his crew in a limo (obviously for Bible study). There ended up being 18 scantily-clad women who made the cut, and he posted photos of the evening on his Twitter account.

Another photo of the same night was posted by one of the ladies, and it shows Smith throwing up signs associated with the Bloods.

Smith is a talent, no doubt. Watch him drop 43 points off the bench against the Chicago Bulls, or hit 11 threes against the Sacramento Kings, and you know there is no denying he plays basketball well. Still, there is one big reason why Smith has been in the NBA for seven years, and still cant find a team willing to make him a starter, or pay him big money.

J.R. Smith is just plain dumb.

It's not nice to say, but its true. He was drafted out of high school by the New Orleans Hornets, where he averaged 10 ppg his rookie season, and by all accounts drove Byron Scott bat-bleep crazy. The team traded him to the Bulls a year and a half later for center Tyson Chandler. The Bulls then traded Smith to the Denver Nuggets for two second round picks and Howard Eisley without ever having him suit up.

Translation, they didn't want any piece of that idiot.

Of course Smith blossomed into some sort of quasi-star in Denver, because the Nuggets organization is a rest haven for headcases. Smith blends in well with the likes of Kenyon Martin, Chris "Birdman" Anderson, "team leader" Carmelo Anthony, and head coach of the head cases, George Karl. He's become a cult hero to Nuggets fans who have come to expect up-and-down performances, incredible dunks, streaky shooting, and of course him throwing up "PIRU" after a made three.

(Oh, wait, I forgot. We're still pretending not to know what he's doing with his hands on the court, and assume that he means "three", or "bulls-eye". I'm sorry.)

Outside the safe surroundings of the Pepsi Center however, Smith might want to watch himself with all that Blood stuff. Denver, as DJ Quik once famously said, is just like Compton. There is a heavy gang pressence in the city. The sports world and the Denver gang culture have crossed paths on more than one occasion. The most famous and tragic being the Darrent Williams killing.

For his own safety I hope he realizes, soon, that this buffonery, or dare I say straight up coonery, can cost him the ultimate price. No, not another appearance in a Waka Flocka Flame video (he's already got that), but his life.

Mamba Tells Melo to Remain 'Mellow'

Kobe Bryant knows a few things about wanting to be traded. It wasn't that long ago that Bryant was pretty much signed, sealed and delivered to the Chicago Bulls, after being frustrated with the Los Angeles Lakers front office stagnation, and multiple years of watching Kwame Brown miss open looks. He famously ripped Mitch Kupchak for not pulling the trigger on a potential Andrew Bynum for Jason Kidd trade. He also went on every local LA radio station, pleaded his case for a change of scenery.

Of course, he never was traded, and that very next season he earned his first regular season MVP award, teamed with Pau Gasol, and proceeded to lead the Lakers to three consecutive Finals appearances, winning the last two.

The lesson here is probably something about patience and perseverance being greater than overreaction.

Bryant is apparently trying to get those lessons he learned conveyed to another NBA star at the center of a potential trade. Carmelo Anthony, in the process of possibly approving a four team trade that will send him and his wife to New Jersey, is currently getting advice from Bryant about thinking his situation through, and not jumping the gun. Yahoo's Marc J. Spears reports that Bryant has told Anthony, "Don't make a move just to get out of the situation (No 'Jersey Shore')... Make sure its a move you're very happy in, and you're comfortable with."

Is this just a friend giving another friend advice? Is this some kind of a mind game Bryant has picked up after years of tutelage under Phil Jackson? Is Kobe just trying to ensure the Denver Nuggets remain a dysfunctional on-court product under Carmelo Anthony's (lack of) leadership ability? We'll just have to wait and see.

Carmelo to the Nets, Done Deal?

Yahoo and the folks at blacksportsonline.com are reporting that Carmelo Anthony will be throwing up the R.O.C. with the New Jersey/soon-to-be-Brooklyn Nets next season. According to their sources, it'll be as many as four teams involved in a trade that will include No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors, and more than a couple of future first round draft picks.

If it all goes down according to the report, the Nets would be receiving a nice compensation prize after missing out on "The Decision". Their biggest free-agent signings this summer were Travis Outlaw's last name, and Jordan Farmar's ears. Not sure how good this actually makes the team this year, but Carmelo is sure to get at least some people to travel from New York to the Garden State to check out a few games. What other options do NY basketball fans have? Do you really expect them to watch the Knicks?

No More Melo?

According to this ESPN report, Carmelo Anthony's days as the face of the Denver Nuggets are nearing an end. There has been speculation of the seperation since Anthony has yet to sign a 3-year, $65 mil extension offered by the team earlier this summer. Now it remains to be seen if the Nuggets will deal Carmelo before the season starts or if they will hold on until the trade deadline and see if he changes his mind. This has definitely been quite the summer in the NBA. Stay tuned...

-ALR