Odd, unsourced rumor of the day …

by Matt Watson on Jun 9, 2008 4:52 AM EDT

... comes from Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post:

It's no secret NBA front-office executives have tried to measure if the Nuggets might actually be willing to part ways with the 24-year-old Anthony, despite assurances to his agent that Denver is not actively shopping the high-scoring forward on the trade market.

Look for the Pistons, who fell just short of reaching the NBA Finals for the third straight season, to be among the teams putting out feelers in regard to Anthony's availability, according to a league source.

Does anyone actually know what "a league source" is? Or what "putting out feelers" entails? Did Scott Perry tweet "@Nuggets: We like Melo, who do you want?" Is Arnie Kander sending smoke signals to Steve Hess? Is a reporter simply trolling message boards?

We'll never know! And when nothing comes of this, no one can ever say Kiszla was wrong. And if someone did, seriously, man, it was a just a "feeler," cut him some slack.

(For whatever it's worth, the rumor is spreading, though it's always impossible to gauge why -- are other reporters chiming in analysis to avoid being scooped, or have they independently verified the rumor in the first place? Sorry for being skeptical, unnamed sources do nothing for me these days.)

Update: Dana Gauruder of the Oakland Press shares my opinion:

A short Denver Post article, which stated that the Pistons might be interested in Anthony, created the feeding frenzy. This struck me as either pure speculation or someone within the Nuggets organization floating a balloon to see how much they could get for their pseudo-superstar.

Anthony is a prolific scorer, the type of player the Pistons have lacked during their long run among the Eastern Conference elite. But on every other level, Anthony is the type of player and person Dumars doesn't want.

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melo is a ballhog an offense and as soft as toilet paper at the other end.
PLEASE DON`T DO THIS

by jay_uno on Jun 9, 2008 7:33 AM EDT reply actions

Hits about a two on my Gonna-Happen-O-Meter.

by Laughton on Jun 9, 2008 8:31 AM EDT reply actions

Why not make other teams think you’re interested, though, even if you’re not? Some old skool psych outs might be entertaining to watch as teams try to grab Melo before Detroit does.

by Garrett on Jun 9, 2008 9:05 AM EDT reply actions

I love this from the comments to the post article:

I say hear all trade offers. Make sure someone overpays before considering moving him.

Detroit? Prince, Hermann, Stuckey, #29 in 2008, #1 in 2009.

Lots of things wrong with that:
1) Good luck making sure Joe D overpays.
2) Hermann’s contract is up, he can’t be traded unless he re-signs.
3) You cannot trade consecutive draft picks.
4) Stuckey is almost certainly untouchable.

by Taco John on Jun 9, 2008 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

This is worse than the rumor about me getting scabies from a Junior Varsity Cheerleader my Freshman year. Why would we want to pick up some doughy push-over who hogs the ball? Luckily, it sounds like total bullshit.

by Detroit Dreshaj on Jun 9, 2008 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

I would love to see this. All personal problems aside, the man can play ball. We have enough defensive players to compensate for his lack thereof. The Pistons need a superstar player to step up when the game is on the line. This is clearly where they lacked the last few post seasons.

by Sean W. on Jun 9, 2008 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

No f’n way this happens.

by Toledo Joe on Jun 9, 2008 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Melo has great talent.. All he needs is to be put in the right situation… be around some veterans. Denver’s team is a mess melo, iverson and camby.. thats it… put him in a deep pistons team.. i think hell be ok…..’’Just my Opinion

by Wags on Jun 9, 2008 12:44 PM EDT reply actions