Is a Carmelo Anthony trade coming? Are the Blazers involved?

A Carmelo Anthony trade may or may not involve Portland, and may or may not go down Tuesday evening.

The Carmelo Anthony trade saga is never-ending.

This prolonged but inevitable move is yet to be made. Still, that hasn’t stopped Twitter reporters from dropping Melo news:

According to his Twitter bio, Steele is a retired NFL executive. He also says he contributed to ESPN Insider and Sporting News.

The report seems to follow the trend lately around Melo. There’s been many Twitter reporters with few followers, no verified checkmark and no real NBA ties trying to be the “first” to break the trade news.

It’s this kind of reporting that got Portland roped into the Melo trade saga in the first place.

But, we did get a timestamp from Steele, which is uncommon. Many like to use “close” or “imminent” when staking a claim.

At least in this case, by 5:45 Tuesday evening* (assuming Central Time because that’s Houston’s time zone), we’ll know if he’s right.

*Update: at 5:45 Central Time, no deal occurred.

I preface all this because it seems to, kind of, corroborate with Mike Rice, infamous and beloved Blazers broadcaster, and his reporting last night:

Now, this is unusual.

Rice is well-tied to the Blazers franchise, and still an avid supporter. Fans still pine for the days of Mike and Mike (and, let’s be honest, they’re as good as it gets).

For him to throw out news like this is surprising. And, Rice has been silent in the wake of it.

Is Rice just making assumptions based off the endless reporting that’s been done on Portland and Melo? Or does he know something that we all don’t?

The combination of the Steele tweet Sunday morning, and Rice’s tweet last night, looks like it could actually hold some weight; it could actually ring true come Tuesday evening.

Melo deal would finally end rumors surrounding Portland

This would just another turn in the Carmelo Anthony trade saga.

Portland’s involvement is said to have begun as a three-team trade with the Knicks and Rockets heated up. This started pondering of Ryan Anderson’s arrival to Rip City.

It even raised the question of who would take on Meyers Leonard’s contract.

Then, Portland came out with a Melo-or-nothing ultimatum, unwilling to help Houston trade for him. But talks stalled as the Knicks signed Scott Perry on to become their new GM.

Melo then stated he didn’t have interest in waiving his no-trade clause for Portland. Yet Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum did their parts to reach out.

And now, it seems we may be back to the first phase: Portland is helping facilitate, Ryan Anderson may be a Blazer and Meyers Leonard needs a suitor.

Next: Kyrie Irving wants a situation like Damian Lillard

I, for one, am ready for this saga to end.

If Tuesday evening really is the end, all I hope for is no ugly, long contract Portland has to pay, and the Blazers shedding salary that isn’t solely Meyers Leonard.