Stand down, you few proud Carmelo Anthony trade enthusiasts: Everybody who's anybody is saying this isn't a feasible thing we're talking about, a position which will surely change four or five times today. The LAT put a pretty pat end to the rumors Tuesday with a handful of denials from the Lakers, albeit off the record, including more pooh-poohs to the idea that Andrew Bynum's somehow involved:
The Lakers were pulled into the season-long Carmelo Anthony drama after an ESPN report named them as possible trade partners with the Denver Nuggets for the unhappy All-Star forward.
There were denials from the start, team officials saying off the record they wouldn't include Andrew Bynum in a deal for Anthony, sticking with a declaration to The Times last week that there was "zero" chance they would acquire Anthony before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
But wait! Theres more! SB Nation's Tom Ziller throws in a new wrinkle sourced on the opposite coast:
Carmelo Anthony trade rumors will continue to circulate over the next couple of weeks, according to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, because the Denver Nuggets are interested in waiting until the trade deadline on Feb. 24 in order to drive up the price for their superstar.
Meanwhile, our own Silver Screen And Roll sighs with understandable exasperation at the unwanted circus on our doorstep:
Suffice it to say, we've rapidly reached a point where you can find an unnamed source to vouch for pretty much any set of Melo-related facts you'd prefer to believe.
You'll know more when we do. Stay tuned, sports fans.