Knicks Vision Says Ignore Laker Rumors

As a matter of fact, ignore every Carmelo rumor you hear over the next two weeks. After I awoke this morning to texts, emails, and tweets asking me “Is Carmelo REALLY going to the Lakers?!?!?!?!?!” I felt compelled to write this column.

First off, according to a Lakers executive who has been briefed on the discussions, when discussing all of the rumors about a possible Bynum for Melo swap, this executive replied “What’s out there is inaccurate.” (Via RealGM.com) But if you’re still convinced that the Lakers are still in play, consider the proposed deal: Andrew Bynum (a 23 year old center who already has had two major surgeries) for Carmelo Anthony (a four time all-star). Doesn’t make a ton of sense, right?

Now I know that when healthy, Bynum is one of the top centers in the game. Likewise, I know that there is not a more valueable comodity in the NBA than a young and talented center. But if Denver is trying to find a future replacement for Carmelo Anthony, I hardly think that Bynum is a wise investment.

So why would such a rumor leak? Consider where the Nuggets stand in terms of negotiations. Practically the entire league believes that Melo will wind up a New York Knick, and given this belief, few teams are willing to bid on him. My suspicion is that Denver, realizing that at the point that the Knicks are essentially bidding against themselves, felt a need to “engage” another team in discussions. This happens all the time in the NBA, and is especially common as the trading deadline draws closer.

Generally I wouldn’t be so quick to assume that today’s rumor isn’t true. But Denver’s track record throughout this entire ordeal hasn’t been stellar. During the New Jersey portion of their negotiations, it seemed that every rumor that was leaked was eventually shot down by every team other than Denver. Obviously, negotiations are a complicated procedure, especially when what’s on the table is as valuable as Carmelo Anthony. But here are three things to remember while trying to sift through the next two weeks of rumors:

1. Very rarely, if ever, will a team truthfully leak useable information about a deal. It’s just bad business. In fact, when it does happen, you can bet that somebody will be fired. Beat writers and national reporters all have their various contacts throughout the league, but I doubt that any individual who deals with his team’s front office operations would be willing to give out any information that could damage his organization’s chance at winning. Generally, what’s leaked is done so to improve a team’s ability to acquire a player.
2. Most of these “rumors” are the result of what happens when NBA bloggers play with the trade machine too much. If a deal seems logical, the money matches up, and it’s a slow day of news, a reporter very well may decide to publish his own idea as a potential rumor. This happens all the time (and it’s how about 50% of ESPN’s Rumor Mill is generated, FYI).
3. Don’t forget what we already know: Carmelo Anthony wants to be a New York Knick, and the New York Knicks apparently want Carmelo Anthony. We are all so quick to assume that just because a credible sources hears a development, that information should take precedence over common fact. Don’t allow how the breeze is blowing one day to affect what you wear for the next month, if that saying I just made up makes the slightest bit of sense.