NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on Carmelo Anthony, Victor Oladipo Trade, More

We are now nine days away from the NBA draft and likely around two weeks from the start of free agency, which means we are fully in rumors season. 

Trades? Sign and trades? Potential free-agency signings? These are all about to be on the table in the NBA, which means we'll be reviewing some of the latest buzz from around the NBA world. 

Let's get to it. 

Maybe. Wouldn't that be something?

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the New York Knicks "still plan to pursue former star Carmelo Anthony, even if they can’t pull off a trade for his buddy, Chris Paul. The Post has reported Anthony would be eager to join the Knicks if they land Paul."

Sure, the Knicks could take the patient route, building around young players like RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson while using their cap space to take on bad contracts from other teams in exchange for draft assets. But why do that when they could maybe get the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference by trading for the 35-year-old Paul and signing the 36-year-old Anthony?

OK, sarcasm aside, trading for Paul and Anthony doesn't make a great deal of sense for the Knicks. It's unlikely to make them a contender, it's not going to entice future targets such as Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Knicks and it will potentially hurt the development of young players like Barrett. It would also tie up huge chunks of cap space that could be utilized on other add assets. 

If the Knicks had it on good authority that adding Paul and Anthony would help entice another quality free agent to the Knicks, then maybe it would make sense. But the only player who would turn them into a contender this offseason via free agency is Anthony Davis, and it seems like a formality that he'll re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

There are paths to return the Knicks to contender status and general relevance. Pairing Paul and Anthony in the Big Apple likely isn't one of them. 

It's no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks need to get Antetoukounmpo more help. Not reaching the NBA Finals despite finishing with the best regular-season record two straight seasons is evidence enough of that. One player they might consider is restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic.

According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Bucks "love" Bogdanovic, but acquiring him "would require a sign-and-trade; the Bucks have kicked around scenarios in which they also absorb Harrison Barnes, sources have told ESPN. It is unclear if they have engaged the Kings in real discussions; it's early."

On one hand, Bogdanovic's shooting (37.2 percent from three) and scoring ability (15.1 PPG) would make him a good fit next to the Greek Freak in Milwaukee's floor-spacing offense. 

On the other, Milwaukee probably needs another primary ball-handler who can create his own offense to take some of the pressure off Antetoukounmpo. That's where a player like Paul would make sense, though Lowe noted that "there has been no traction so far—and maybe not even any talks—on any deal sending Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Bucks, multiple sources say."

Even if that player isn't Paul, a true upgrade on Eric Bledsoe at point guard might better solve Milwaukee's issues than a sharpshooter like Bogdanovic. Regardless, the Bucks need to shake up the roster this season. Which brings us to our final slide...

If there's a player who might bridge the skill-set gap between Bogdanovic and Paul, it could be Victor Oladipo, who can both create his own offense and operate as a spot-up shooter if needed. His 35 percent career shooting from three is pretty average, so he'd be a drop-off from both Bogdanovic and Paul in that regard, but he's a better two-way player than Bogdanovic and much younger than Paul. 

Lowe noted that the Bucks "are also eyeing Indiana's Oladipo, though no substantive talks with the Pacers have taken place, sources say. Other teams are monitoring the Oladipo situation, but several of them would like to see Oladipo in action before engaging Indiana, sources say."

That's the rub with Oladipo—is he going to be the player who averaged 23.1 points per game in his breakout 2017-18 season, emerging as an All-NBA third-team selection, or the player who struggled with injuries the last two years and averaged 14.5 points while shooting 39.4 percent from the field in 19 games this past season?

Oladipo might also be a rental, as he hits free agency after the 2020-21 campaign. Play well and the Bucks would likely have to decide if he is worth a max contract. Struggle and, well, the trade to get him would look bad. 

He's an interesting option for the Bucks, who will assuredly explore all avenues to build a champion. But acquiring him would bring with it some major questions.