The Denver Nuggets can’t possibly be so dumb as to assume they will turn out any better than the Raptors or Cavs if they do not trade Carmelo Anthony before the trade deadline.  Anyone with a pair of eyes can watch them play and see a NBA title is not in their future. Whether it be to a team he signs with long-term, or as a hired gun, Melo needs to be moved for the Nuggets to start the long process of breaking down a contender and moving back towards respectability. So here’s 2 potential trades-

Trade #1

Knicks get: Carmelo Anthony, Al Harrington, Chris Anderson, Aaron Afflalo, Wayne Ellington, Sheldon Williams

Nuggets get: Corey Brewer, Wilson Chandler, Kelenna Azubuike, Roger Mason, Andy Rautins, Anthony Tolliver, a future 1st round pick from Minnesota

T-Wolves get: Eddy Currys corpse, Bill Walker, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Randolph

Why the Knicks do it: To block a potential Lakers move for Melo.

Why the Nuggets do it: While it’s not a perfect trade, they get a legit starting 3 in Chandler, young guys, a draft pick, and cap room.

Why the T-Wolves do it: For a non-lottery pick and Corey Brewer, they get to take a chance on some really talented young guys.

Trade #2

Nuggets get: Monta Ellis, Devin Ebanks, Derrick Caracter, Marvin Williams

Lakers get: Carmelo Anthony, Mo Evans, Louis Amundson

Hawks get: Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, Al Harrington, Brandon Wright

Warriors get: Josh Smith, Shannon Brown, Zaza Pachulia

Why the Nuggets do it: Ellis and Lawson would be the fastest backcourt in the league, they’d pick up 2 nice prospects, plus Williams is a flippable asset.

Why the Lakers do it: Because Bynum’s body isn’t built to play basketball 82 games a year. Because Ron Artest sucks. Because Kobe can no longer be the man every night.

Why the Hawks do it: To move Al Horford to his natural 4 position.

Why the Warriors do it: Because all they want to do is run teams off the court, and the lineup of Curry-Brown-Wright-Smith-Biedrins can do that.

Fun With ESPN’s Trade Machine: Melo’ Edition! - Pacman Jonesin' - Pacman Jonesin' - A Sports Entertainment Blog

Western Conference

15. Minnesota-

One Big Question: Will David Kahn stop being a joke?

Answer: Nope. The guy is clearly in over his head as a GM and is the 1st call of any team trying to unload a bad contract. The Darko Milicic signing was indefensible, he somehow turned Al Jefferson into Kosta Koufos, oh and have I mentioned they don’t have their #1 pick in 2012? This team’s screwed.

Entertainment Value:

4 of 10: Kevin Love’s awesome, rookie Wes Johnson will make some wow plays, and if Michael Beasley doesn’t drink himself to death this could be a fun little team.

Record: 14-68

Poor Kevin Love. He might win the rebounding title, yet is forced to play with stiffs like Darko, head cases like Beasley, and busts like Flynn. Atleast he can look forward to Kahn trading him for 2 2nd rounders next summer.

14. Golden State

One Big Question: Is anyone going to play defense?

Answer: No, but this team will be too much fun for anyone to really care.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: Curry, Ellis, and David Lee are all run and gun all-stars. Not a one of them plays defense(although they try). Biedrins is the white Josh Smith. And watch out for rookie PG Jeremy Lin, he can shoot the lights out and could get time as the back up to Ellis and Curry.

Record: 22-60

Alotta fun to watch 140-130 losses from these guys.

13. Denver

One Big Question: Start rebuilding now or later?

Answer: Now! This trade uses Anthony and Billups to clear every bad contract off the roster and brings in some new blood.

Entertainment Value:

7 of 10 currently, falls with every trade:

With Billups, Melo, Birdman, and K-Mart this is one of the most fascinating teams in the league, but all of those guys could be gone by seasons end.

Record: 30-52

This team will play well while their together and beat up the Eastern Conference. But once the trades start going this team will be over matched and fall fast.

12. Memphis-

One Big Question: Can this team take the next step and earn a play-off berth?

Answer: No, this team is similar to the Hawks with their great wings, solid bigs, and shaky point play. However in the tough West thats not enough to earn a play-off berth.

Entertainment Value:

7 of 10: Gay,Mayo, Randolph, and Gasol are all fun to watch. If Thabeet gives them anything this team’s got a real chance.

Record: 32-50

Thabeet won’t give them anything, Randolph will gun for stats in his contract year, and Chris Wallace will do nothing to help.

11. Sacramento:

One Big Question: What can DeMarcus Cousins bring them?

Answer: All depends on Tyreke Evans. Clearly the guy is a talented scorer, but if he can learn to run the pick and roll with Cousins  they could be the evolution of Stockton and Malone. Even without that I think he averages a double-double, beats up on smaller teams, and finishes in the top 3 in the ROY voting.

Entertainment Value:

8 of 10: Cousins will resemble a shorter version of Shaq, Evans has a few 50 point games in him, and Casspi is a fun shooter to watch.

Record: 35-47

They’ll come out hot, but lack of depth and experience will cause them to fade down the stretch. They’re definitely close though.

10. New Orleans-

One Big Question: Did they get Chris Paul enough help?

Answer: Close, but no. Adding Ariza, Bellinelli, and Bayless were all well thought out and will keep Paul from asking out this season. But it’s still not enough to get in the play-offs.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: Chris Paul is worth a 10 alone, adding in all these athletes and this could be one of the most fun to watch lottery teams this year.

Record: 40-42

I don’t doubt this team could make the play-offs given that the West is 6 contenders and everyone else. But the Hornets lack size up front and are one Chris Paul injury away from falling off the map.

9.  Portland

One Big Question: Can their fragile young stars stay healthy?

Answer: No,  Marcus Camby’s an appropriate veteran leader for a team with so many brittle young guys.

Entertainment Value:

9 ½  of 10: If Oden actually plays the Blazers have the size and fire power to compete  with the Wests big boys.

Record: 42-40

There’s no doubt the Blazers have the talent to compete in the West, however outside of a suprising mid-season trade injuries will catch up with Portland and knock them just short of the 8 spot.

8. LA Clippers-

One Big Question: Are the Clippers cursed?

Answer: No they are not cursed. That’s just a slow week Bill Simmons column idea. What the Clippers are is managed by Donald Sterling, who despite 53 straight lottery picks has yet to prove he couldn’t screw up a wet dream. A very racist wet dream.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: With Baron Davis, rising star Eric Gordon, The Caveman, and Blake Griffin LAC should run over some teams just on talent alone.

Record: 44-38 (Out in Round 1)

Almost always talented under Mike Dunleavy, this team just needs a few breaks to be get outta the lottery and up to being 1^st round fodder.

7. Houston

One Big Question: How will Yao fit back in?

Answer: He won’t. One of 2 things happen, either he reinjures his foot and the sleeker, quicker Rockets run their way to the play-offs or he doesn’t fit in and is shipped to a non-contender for cap fodder and a young player. This trade could be beneficial to both Houston and Washington.

Entertainment Value:

1 of 10: This team will be an excellent one to fall asleep to when they’re in that 1030 timeslot.

Record: 48-34 (Out in Round 1)

The Rockets couldn’t be more boring, but lucky for them they’re boringly efficient.

6. Phoenix

One Big Question: Can this team get Nash a title?

Answer: No, unless the Suns are willing to go all out for it. If Denver decides ‘’We have to get something for Melo, even if he won’t sign an extension with anyone but NY’’  Then toss in a #1 pick and this trade could work.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: Steve Nash is playing? I’m watching!

Record: 51-31

Even with a mish-mashed line-up and Nashs age, the Suns can run the Wests older teams out of the gym and carve up the younger ones.

5. Utah-

One Big Question: Can Al Jefferson get back to his 20-10 form?

Answer: Yes, for some reason David Kahn gave away this guy. With Millsap in tow, Jefferson won’t be run ragged and will be able to rest his knees and still put up numbers.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: Deron Williams is worth a 10 by himself and it’ll be fun to watch the home crowd get behind rookie Gordon Hayward.

Record: 54-28 (Out in round 1)

Utah has some big guns, but lack the size to win come play-off time.

4. San Antonio-

One Big Question: Can the old men hold up for more season?

Answer: Yes, but it still won’t be enough to win the West.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: Tim Duncan….thats all I need to watch.

Record: 55-27 (Out in round 2)

Don’t get me wrong, the Spurs are still a incredibly good and consistent regular season team. But the West has changed and their lack of size upfront and age will be exposed come play-off time.

3. Dallas-

One Big Question: Can Dirk carry this group of vets to a title before their window closes?

Answer: No- Caron Butler, Jason Terry, and Tyson Chandler are not enough to push past the Lakers/Thunder.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: Dirk’s always fun to watch

Record: 58-24

They’ve got the horses for the regular season and have a very deep squad, but so do LA and OKC and in those cases it always comes down to the best player. Dirk just isn’t on Kobe and Durants level.

2. LA Lakers-

One Big Question: Will opposing point men continue to gut LA?

Answer: Yes. When I hear ”Steve Blake” I don’t exactly think ”lock down defense”.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: Kobe!

Record: 61-21(Finals)

LA has the size, depth, defenders, coaching, and experience to get right back where they were last year.

1. OKC-

One Big Question: Can this team become the NBAs youngest champions ever?

Answer: Not quite, LA has one more run in them…..but the Thunder are damn close.

Entertainment Value:

10 of 10: DURANT!

Record: 64-18

The Durants are so close, I just think in the end the Lakers have the horses to out do the Thunder for one more year.

Finals pick- Boston over LA in 7

2010-2011 Western Conference Preview - Pacman Jonesin' - Pacman Jonesin' - A Sports Entertainment Blog

There were lots of memorable moments during Tuesday’s big public memorial for Michael Jackson.  One of the biggest, at least for sports fans, was when Laker legends Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson took the stage together to say a few words about the late entertainer.  Words that included Magic Johnson’s odd story about the time he went to Jackson’s house and found out that MJ preferred Kentucky Fried Chicken to the stuff his cook made.

Really Magic?  That was the greatest moment of your life?  Better than winning championships in college or the pros?  Better than that final All-Star game when you won the MVP?  Hmm…

Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Michael Jackson and…Kentucky Fried Chicken? - Pacman Jonesin' - Pacman Jonesin' - A Sports Entertainment Blog