Both the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers are not doing well so far in the 2016-17 NBA season. Because of that, industry observers believe both teams must be finding ways to improve their performance and respective rosters if they want to have a shot at the playoffs. The latest NBA trade rumors then have these teams at the trading block with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis linked to a three-team, nine-player deal.
The season is drawing closer to its mid and the Knicks and the Lakers are struggling hard to emerge as victors. The fate though is turning against them as the Knicks are currently seating on the seventh place of the Eastern Con with 10 wins and 9 losses, while the Lakers are stuck on the ninth of the Western Con with 10 wins and 11 losses.
Another team at the losing edge of this season's standing is the Minnesota Timberwolves who seem to be in desperate need of major changes in their lineup. With the 5 wins and 14 losses record that they have to date, the team indeed needs to look into the option of bringing in veteran and versatile players in their roster.
Being on the losing streak, the Timberwolves have been rumored to acquire Demarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay. There were also talks that the Wolves intend to acquire Porzingis. None of these were ever confirmed, but now that the season is almost meeting the February trade deadline, the Timberwolves are rumored to sacrifice their rookies for one major deal with the Knicks and the Lakers.
A slumping team helping another falling team might not be a good idea but the trade scenario seems to satisfy all three teams as they are said to put the involved players in the right lineup where they can also breakout.
Melo is the achiever in this trade scenario but this nine-time NBA All-Star player is not yet in his monster performance as he is only averaging 22.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He surely can do better than this as he has recorded a career-high of 62 points in 2014. His team's strategy might be a major determiner of his seemingly poorer performance, and placing him to another team might just tap the "winner" in him.
With the nine players being dragged into this trade scenario and with Melo being the most experienced among the trade pieces, it seems though that the Timberwolves will benefit the most by acquiring two rookies who are predicted to be superstars in a few years.
The speculated deal then suggests that Anthony and the TWolves' Ricky Rubio head to the Lakers. In return, the Timberwolves will acquire the Knicks' rookie Porzingis and Jordan Clarkson from the Lakers. While Melo has a potential to go back to superstar mode, it is noteworthy that he is aging and it might be a risk for the team to give up two of its most promising players. The Timberwolves, on the other hand, might have better future in putting Porzingis in the point guard position and Karl Anthony Towns as its center.
As for the NY Knicks, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Pekovic might be sent by the Timberwolves and will still have to acquire Jose Calderon, Luol Deng and Julius Randle from the Lakers.
Some of the trade pieces though are not eligible for transfer as they just signed with the Lakers. Clarkson and Deng will have to wave the deal or the Lakers will have to prepare other players to be sent off for the trade suggestion to become possible.
