NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks to make a serious run at Carmelo Anthony following Knicks deal
By Jack Crosby
The Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday got together with the New York Knicks and pulled off the first blockbuster trade just one day before the NBA Draft is set to take place. In the deal, the Mavericks got back Tyson Chandler, along with also acquiring Raymond Felton; but that they also did was give themselves a little breathing room to upgrade on the free agent end, more specifically to upgrade by adding Carmelo Anthony.
More from Dallas Mavericks
- Grant Williams’ attempt to embarrass camper backfires hilariously
- NBA Rumors: Warriors, Lakers among contenders for key free agent
- Mavericks: Mark Cuban calls Kyrie Irving ‘misunderstood’ after new contract
- Why isn’t Matisse Thybulle on the Mavericks?
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
It’s no secret that Anthony enjoys playing with Chandler and it’s also well known that Mark Cuban wants to make a free agent splash and is even set to meet with Anthony very shortly.
According to Ken Berger over at CBS, this deal was done with the intention of giving themselves enough financial stability to pay Dirk Nowitzki, as well as bring Anthony into town at a rate he will be happy with.
"The trade left the Mavs with $33.5 million in cap room, about $24 million of which is eaten up by the cap hold for Nowitzki, who is a free agent. A multi-year deal that brings Nowitzki back at about $10 million less than that would open up a slot to offer LeBron James, Chris Bosh, or … wait for it … Carmelo Anthony a four-year deal starting at $20 million."
While LeBron would be nice, as well, it’s widely believed by some that it’s Anthony who they want on their roster, and would no doubt provide a tremendous boost, along with Nowitzki and his buddy Chandler, toward getting the Mavs back to the NBA Championship.