Looks like Lebron and Carmelo headed to Minnesota

[Gerk]

From Sam Smith

LeBron feeling Minnesota?
-- So how would LeBron fit with the Minnesota Timberwolves? I know, I laughed, too. But then I was told it wasn’t such a funny idea, which suggests even more so that this recruitment of James is going to take even more forms than we imagined possible.

The talk is the Timberwolves intend to be very aggressive with their cap space and not accept some veteran or modest talent under the assumption no free agent would go there. As it was pointed out to me, Brett Favre went there because it was a better chance to win. And Favre left New York to go to Minnesota, whose sports teams, including the Twins, have a successful track record and supportive fan base.

The thinking goes like this: The Timberwolves have three firsts and seem willing to part with Al Jefferson, a post up inside player, or Kevin Love. Say Jefferson is in greater demand because he is a bigger scorer. They offer Jefferson and their three firsts, including No. 4, to Denver for Carmelo Anthony. Denver has an aging group with Kenyon Martin and Chauncey Billups and likely is headed down. Here’s a chance to recoup fast at a time they easily could lose Anthony in a year. So they get a potential star center and a top five pick to build a better core. And maybe pick up something for their veterans as they seem to have peaked. And Minnesota has Jonny Flynn, Love, Darko Milicic and Corey Brewer and goes for LeBron and even maybe works a sign and trade by getting Ricky Rubio to the Cavs and also LeBron out of the conference. Far fetched? Sure, but you never say never in the NBA, and perhaps more significantly, it suggests the bidding for James is hardly going to be among just the four or five teams who gutted their rosters for cap room.

[Seanie Mac]

lock it up

[upinya83]

0-2 -220

[Gerk]

Originally Posted by upinya83

0-2 -220

[justdonating]

Sorry Gerk, it aint happening......

[HoosierDaddy23]

Sources: 'Melo, Nuggets closer to dealEmail Print Comments47 By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Archive
It's looking increasingly likely that the expected star of the NBA's 2011 free-agent class won't even make it to next summer's open market.

The Denver Nuggets and Carmelo Anthony are making significant progress on a contract extension that would result in Anthony landing a new contract this offseason along with fellow 2003 draftees LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.



Anthony

Although holding off to exercise an opt-out clause after the 2010-11 season would make him next summer's face of free agency -- like James is now -- sources told ESPN.com this week that Anthony is increasingly eager to secure his future more immediately. Anthony's last contract did not have an opt-out clause after three years like free agents-to-be James, Wade and Bosh possess, but Anthony is eligible for an extension with the Nuggets at any time up to June 30, 2011.

A three-year max extension worth more than $60 million could be announced within days of Thursday's draft, sources said. Another source estimated the timetable at "a couple of weeks."

While attending Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Los Angeles, Anthony acknowledged the possibility of striking a three-year extension with the Nuggets as opposed to becoming a free agent in 2011, saying: "We'll see what happens. I think my agent [Leon Rose] is going to talk to them in a week or so and see what's happening, and if there's something on the table then we'll go to the table and see what's the best situation for me."

Sources said that Rose and Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien were indeed seen negotiating during a recent three-day workout of draft prospects in New Jersey.

Passing on an extension this summer would keep pressure on the Nuggets to pursue the roster renovations that Anthony has acknowledged Denver needs after it followed up a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2009 with a first-round exit this season. With coach George Karl battling throat cancer after the All-Star break and missing the playoffs and defensive anchor Kenyon Martin plagued by knee trouble, Denver couldn't sustain its 42-21 start and lost to Utah in the opening round.

Although sources say there remains some sentiment in Anthony's camp to wait, he does have great incentive to come to terms on an extension without testing free agency, thereby ensuring that he continues to be paid based on the league's current labor agreement as opposed to exposing himself to the uncertainty of the next labor agreement, at a time when owners leaguewide are determined to hold out for a reduction in contract lengths and maximum salaries when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.

Anthony has a busy summer planned irrespective of his contract status. He's scheduled to get married July 10 and told the Denver Post that he is already down to 234 pounds and plans to spend much of the summer working out in Los Angeles with Idan Ravin, one of the NBA's foremost personal trainers.

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by upinya83

0-2 -220

lol

[TTB]

CM reach of the decade here? jk

[jonnyblaze]

both have about as much chance as Ricky Rubio playing for the Wolves

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by jonnyblaze

both have about as much chance as Ricky Rubio playing for the Wolves

barcelona > minneapolis

[iggs111]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

barcelona > minneapolis

yea? you been to barcelona? You bang any hot Spaniards?

[TheLink]

Originally Posted by jonnyblaze

both have about as much chance as Ricky Rubio playing for the Wolves

much better chance of rubio playing for Wolves given they own his rights assuming he wants to play in NBA someday.

[shepherd]

Originally Posted by TheLink

much better chance of rubio playing for Wolves given they own his rights assuming he wants to play in NBA someday.

i would bet on Lebron playing in Europe in the next 5 years before i'd bet on Rubio playing in Minnesota...

[darealist2]

when pigs fly

One call to KG about this organization and you can forget about this non sense

[ConstantColorUpor]

I forgot Melo was a FA next year, and to tell you the truth I think he is in a great position. This offseason he gets to sit back see where people go, and next season he'll be the cream of the crop all alone and will get to cherry pick where he wants to go, likely will be teamed up with another elite player likely a team who is unable to grab only 1 max contract guy this year. As for Lebron and Melo in Minnesota, I have a better chance of Megan Fox walking into my house right now and sucking me off, shit just aint happening.