NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers, Rockets and Knicks reportedly talking trade

NBA Trade Rumors don’t stop during free agency, but now there’s one including the Blazers and a Melo trade.

File this to NBA Trade Rumors, and, more importantly, NBA Trade Rumors including Portland:

According to @JSports_ent, the Knicks, Rockets and Blazers are in the early stages of creating a three-team trade. The trade would revolve around All-Star Carmelo Anthony going to Houston.

Anthony would join Chris Paul and James Harden to form a superteam.

Also involved in the trade is Moe Harkless and Meyers Leonard of the Blazers. They’d most likely go to the Knicks, who would also want picks. Portland would then receive Ryan Anderson, Houston’s breakout stretch-4.

Along with draft picks thrown in, Houston needs to move some contracts, and they’ll probably be packaged with Anderson to Portland.

The trade is not as unique as it has been in the past, mainly due to a similar one that occurred earlier this week involving Danilo Gallinari.

It’s intriguing, though, because Houston doesn’t have to give up much to receive Anthony. New York, theoretically, wouldn’t even receive a player from the Rockets. That’s pretty much what this trade is to the Knicks: Anthony leaves the team, and the assets come in from a separate party.

Important to note: This trade has not been reported in greater depth anywhere else yet, and the “sources” have not been fully identified.

This whole thing could be a hoax. So, all of this information should be taken in with many grains of salt. But if it’s true, it would be huge, and signs point to it being a possibility.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski did report Houston is looking to dump non-guaranteed deals, but it’s rather vague as to what they’re looking for:

Anthony has been quoted as saying he would only waive his no-trade clause if he were to be traded to Houston or Cleveland.

Harkless and Leonard would also be great pieces for a rebuilding Knicks squad. Harkless was even part of a Knicks rumor before the NBA Draft.

There’s some pieces that fit together, but it doesn’t mean a trade is imminent.

Anderson provides the perfect type of power forward the Blazers need. His ability to shoot the 3-ball, stretch the floor, rebound and play above-average defense being Portland to the next level.

Harkless would be missed, but Leonard has yet to develop into what was expected of him. Funny enough, what was expected of him mirrors that of Anderson, who also adds a veteran presence to the youngest team in the NBA.

His pairing with Jusuf Nurkić makes a mean frontcourt, and improves/organizes the roster.

Next: Blazers know how Jazz feel about losing big-name free agent

Again, this rumor has a couple non-major outlets reporting it, so the validity is absolutely questionable. Woj’s vague report doesn’t help determine how real it is.

It may be nothing, or it could be a major something. Stay tuned to RCP as we update the situation.