With the trade deadline looming, more and more NBA rumours surround contending teams to rebuilding teams as they try to make a splash on the closing trade market. The biggest risk these teams can take is trading for a rental player (a player on a one year deal that won’t commit) while using their assets to try and just contend for a playoff spot. Another risk includes, banking on fading stars either in their prime or not producing up to par for an exchange of assets and a key piece. The rumoured Knicks, Celts, Cavs trade(another Cavs-Knicks trade?) falls on the latter.

According to a report by the New York Daily News, the Knicks, Cavs and Celtics have entered into preliminary talks for a blockbuster swap where the Celtics would get Kevin Love and the Cavs would obtain Carmelo Anthony. Since the talks are preliminary, there aren’t any parts included in this proposal yet to see which assets or players go where. As of recent days and today, Carmelo Anthony has said he plans on staying with the Knicks:

“I want to win a championship. At this point in my career, that’s the only thing that I really care about,” he said. “But I’m not, I mean, there’s nothing out there for me right now. … I’m not even entertaining no trade talk right now.”

-Carmelo Anthony via ESPN.com article

This trade would be EPIC!!!!! I have no idea where to start…ok I’m lying:

1. Kevin Love to the Celtics would be a restart to his career. While playing on the Cavaliers, Kevin Love’s PPG has dropped by 10 points and RPG by 2 points. Granted, when playing with LeBron you’re gonna have to sacrifice. Chris Bosh saw his numbers dwindle as well. However, in the Celtics extra pass system, Kevin Love would get more touches and hopefully will get to play from post to 3 point line rather than being a designated stretch 4 (the dumbest idea ever) which he is now.
2. The Cavaliers with Carmelo will be an exciting pairing. It gives the Cavaliers more scoring and will only take a little hit on the boards. But, that could be changed with the starting big duo of Tristan Thompson and *insert big man here if Mozgov gets traded*. Melo’s touches could take away from Kyrie Irving but he’s a PG so he should be passing more. It would also make Irving become a better facilitator deferring to the bigger stars on his team. This pairing will also help LeBron on both ends of the floor lightening the load with adding a better athletic two way player and elite scorer on the wing with you. 
3. This move gives the Knicks more leeway in the salary cap stance, dumping Carmelo’s $55 million owed the next two seasons. With the salary cap ballooning over the summer, this move would be awesome for the rebuilding struggling franchise. They can use the cap to help around franchise center piece, Kristaps Porzingis, to help him grow and the team grow into contenders in the future.
4. If Carmelo Anthony doesn’t accept this trade, if it does happen, he’s a complete moron. He’s not giving up on the city, they have nothing left to give him and he them. He’s 31, never been to the finals, which means he hasn’t any championships. He will never win one in New York unless there’s a blockbuster going in New York’s favour. Plus, Melo didn’t work well with fellow star Amare Stoudemire dropping his numbers ridiculously after coming off a stellar first year in New York that made them relevant again (mixed with Amare’s failed knees). He also didn’t do well with Jeremy Lin stealing his shine when Linsanity came about. However, he has worked well with other stars like LeBron on an international stage in the Olympics. The positives out way the negatives, but pride may be in the way on this one.

This trade needs to happen to revive some life in all of the teams involved. It would send the Celtics over the top, the Cavs to the upper echelon, and the Knicks into a new era. #DoTheDeal

Stats provided by basketball-reference.com

Photo courtesy of cavsnation.com