While the Nuggets still attempt to keep franchise player Carmelo Anthony in the fold by signing an extension, one player they are ready to part with is J.R Smith. Reports out of Denver state Smith, who is the final year of his contract, is being shopped alone and in trade packages. Many Nuggets fans worry that should Carmelo Anthony opt to not return, the team that showed so much promise over the past few seasons could look drastically different by the All-Star break this year.
The latest Carmelo news isn’t good for Knicks fans. Reports coming out of both Houston and Los Angeles state that the Rockets and Clippers may both have the upper hand as preferred destinations over the Knicks. While Houston may not have the pieces Denver would want back in a trade, the Clippers have plenty of young talent to send back to Denver, in hopes of linking up Anthony with Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin.
Should Phil Jackson carry forward with his implication of retirement, it sounds like the Lakers short list of replacements will include two men that are also on the Cavaliers short list. Current Lakers assistant Brian Shaw joins former Hornets coach Byron Scott as two of the frontrunners for both teams. Of course, both franchises present very different circumstances regarding their positions. Taking over for the greatest coach of all time are shoes that many would find too daunting to fill, especially with the fact the Lakers are 2 time defending champs looking to 3 peat. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers position has so many question marks primarily due to the LeBron James situation.
If LeBron stays, and attracts another free agent to sign there(Chris Bosh), that job becomes the most coveted in the league. However, if LeBron bolts, who will be willing to take over a franchise that will be scarred for years?
Another team looking to fill their coaching vacancy is the Clippers. Los Angeles is believed to have narrowed down their choices to former Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro, former Hawks coach Mike Woodson, and Lakers assistant Brian Shaw, should he pass on both the Lakers and Cavs jobs.
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