5 trade destinations for Carmelo Anthony
By John Buhler
Los Angeles Clippers
West, Pacific
Though they are rolling in mid-January, we all kind of know that the Los Angeles Clippers have a definite ceiling as a basketball team. This team is likely bound for another Western Conference Semifinals exit, as they won’t be able to beat the rival Golden State Warriors in the No. 1 vs. No. 4 second-round series.
That being said, Los Angeles has been a few lucky breaks away from being an NBA title contender for the last four years. The Clippers decided to get the band back together for one last shot at a title with this core in 2017. However, could head coach and president of basketball operations Doc Rivers be willing to break it up prematurely?
Los Angeles’ Achilles’ heel has been small forward during the entire Rivers tenure in Hollywood. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is serviceable, but that position has ruined the Clippers annually come playoff time. Would Rivers trade for Anthony … and what would be the price?
He very well could, as Anthony and Clippers point guard Chris Paul are very close. Going to the Knicks would have to be Blake Griffin. Not sure that the Clippers would be willing to trade away the greatest draft pick in franchise history.
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Still, the Griffin/Paul Clippers teams have never been as good as they could be. They’ve been good but never great. Anthony may not help the Clippers win a title this year, but he and Paul could present a solid foundation for a new era of Clippers basketball come 2017 NBA free agency. It’s not a likely pivot for either franchise, but this is a trade scenario for which Anthony would waive his no-trade clause. Probably.