NBA Trade Rumors: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo Separate Fact From Fiction
NBA trade rumors have been heating up in the run-up to the deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. Teams with top contenders are looking to improve their chances of winning a championship, while other teams are looking to get rid of players or rebuild altogether. Some of the biggest names coming up in conversation are LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul.
LeBron, for his part, has been forthcoming about his "decision" this year— he doesn't plan on leaving Miami anytime soon with a third consecutive championship on the line. He can opt out of his contract with the Heat after this season, but didn't seem like he would.
"At this point, I can't," he told Fox Sports Florida in an interview. "We don't know what could happen from now to July. You know, so, what I've been able to do this whole season is just worry about … winning a championship."
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"Hopefully at the end of the year, I can put myself in position where I can hold that Larry O'Brien Trophy up once again and I'll asses what I have to do with my future after that," the veteran added.
Carmelo Anthony is also rumored to be traded to the Bulls because of several factors: the Knicks, at 20-32, are hardly contenders for the playoffs; the Knicks are over the salary cap even without Anthony on the roster; and the Bulls need a scorer since Derrick Rose has been near-permanently sidelined for yet another season.
A proposed trade could end up with Carlos Boozer, Jimmy Butler and Tony Snell for Anthony, Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert, according to The Chicago Tribune. However, the Knicks' star scorer has stated that he wants to "retire a Knick" and will even take a pay cut to do so.
"I don't want to be traded," Anthony told New Orleans reporters at the All-Star Weekend. "I've said it before that I wanted to retire as a Knick. … I meant it. That's how I feel."
A possible trade was considered involving Rajon Rondo, where the Sacramento Kings would give up Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore and a draft pick. The Celtic point guard was reportedly not interested, but there have also been rumors that team would only consider him for another potentially star-caliber player like Chris Paul.
Pau Gasol's name was also brought up for a possible trade to the Charlotte Bobcats, though the move is doubtful. Ben Gordon's contract, valued at $13.2 million, is up soon, so the team will need to rebuild offensively somehow.
