Carmelo Anthony (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
With only days away from the February 23 trade deadline, teams are scrambling to make their moves.
Recent rumors have suggested the trade deadline could feature a handful of blockbuster deals, including the Cleveland Cavaliers acquiring Carmelo Anthony from the New York Knicks. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, LeBron James is pushing for the Cavs to trade Kevin Love for Anthony, who has been rumored to be open to waiving his no-trade clause.
"According to a league source, LeBron is the one pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers front office to acquire Carmelo even if it means trading Kevin Love, which is something Cavs management is opposed to doing," Isola wrote.
"Any deal for Anthony would require the Knicks' leading scorer to waive his no-trade clause and the consensus is that Anthony would agree to play for the defending champs and his long-time friend LeBron."
The Cavs are reportedly looking to add a veteran playmaker, which makes Anthony an unlikely acquisition for the defending champs. But there is no doubt what the nine-time All-Star could do on the offensive end, and he could be more dangerous playing alongside James, who has proven countless times he can co-exist with another star.
Another story in the league is the potential deal between the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers. ESPN's Marc Stein reported that both teams are in "advance talks" about a transaction involving young center Jahlil Okafor.
Pairing Okafor with Anthony Davis would seem like a perfect pairing, with the latter covering up the Duke product's lack of defense. It is also worth noting that Okafor is only 21 and still has plenty of improvement in him, but his back-to-the-basket game may not be an ideal fit for Alvin Gentry's fast-paced offense.
Meanwhile, the blockbuster move NBA fans have been waiting for may feature Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins. Aliene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee believes it is time for the Kings to part ways with Cousins, who has been linked to countless trade rumors in the past.
"Divac should be immersed in conversations with those of his peers intrigued by Cousins and burning up his cellphone battery working over the skeptics. Celtics. Lakers. Cavs. Mavs. Suns. Magic. The list surely will expand before Feb. 23, with Boston, L.A. and Phoenix armed with an array of young assets to facilitate a prudent, deliberate, long overdue Kings rebuild," Voisin wrote.
Cousins has been the team's best player on the court, but many believes he is a locker room question mark in Sacramento, given his previous behaviors. But while many teams would certainly be interested in adding an All-Star caliber player like Cousins, it will surely be expensive buying the All-Star center.
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