NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Most Likely Landing Spots For Carmelo Anthony

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

Now we’re getting to the legitimate contenders.

There is a very good chance that if Anthony is moved before the deadline, Cleveland will be his new home. Even ESPN’s Brian Windhorst felt confident in that assertion.

So why the Cavaliers? Well, Rosen mentioned them as a team Carmelo would waive his no-trade clause for. Then there’s the obvious appeal of playing for the reigning champions, who are currently sitting atop the Eastern standings. Seeing as Anthony has no ring, playing for a team with a real shot at winning it all seems logical.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Knicks already came to Cleveland with a trade offer. They proposed a swap of Anthony and Kevin Love, but were turned down. Despite that, another ESPN report claimed New York is still attempting to find a deal that appeals to the Cavaliers.

The reason Cleveland lands at No. 3 on this list, though, is their financial situation. They’re already way over the cap, and aren’t in a great spot to absorb Anthony’s gaudy contract. As great as it would be to see LeBron James and Carmelo teaming up, it’s going to take some serious maneuvering to make it work.