NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony To Chicago? Report Claims Swap For Carlos Boozer, Jimmy Butler And Picks Gaining Progress Contrary To Previous ‘No Trade’ Stance By Knicks

NBA Trade Rumors for Carmelo Anthony are very fickle. New reports have surfaced that contrary to other reports that Carmelo will not be traded by the Knicks, trade talks between New York and Chicago have gained progress.

A day ago, the word about Carmelo Anthony is that he will finish the season with the Bulls, and the Knicks will take a risk if he wants to leave for free agency.

The report from Yahoo Sports a day ago: "There is "no chance" the Knicks will deal Carmelo Anthony, who owns a contract opt-out this summer, before the trade deadline, a source said."

Now, Hoops Nation claims that trade talks between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls have continued, and the packages have been made. The source is said to be an insider of the Bulls. The details of the trade so far: "The report states that the Bulls would be giving up Carlos Boozer, Kirk Hinrich, Tony Snell, Jimmy Butler, and likely a first round pick as well. In return, Chicago would receive Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton, and Iman Shumpert."

The Bulls would lose a lot of assets, but to acquire Carmelo Anthony without giving up Joakim Noah or even Taj Gibson (they prefer him over Boozer at power forward). Picking up Shumpert is a big bonus for a position they could not fill, and Felton, bad as he is this year, will just be a third string point guard when D-Rose returns.

For the Knicks, the only way they will trade Carmelo Anthony is when they are certain he will opt out and sign with another team. Perhaps it has already reached that point, and the Knicks would want something in return. Tony Snell and Jimmy Butler are young talents who can be part of New York's future but they would not be stars. Hinrich is also a minor piece they can keep on the cheap. Boozer will walk when his contract lapses next year, and the Knicks will start again with a fresh salary cap after the 2015 season, as planned. Melo can't wait for that, and if he joins the Bulls with Rose and Noah, that's a more balanced Big Three, assuming Rose returns to form.

Nine days to the deadline, we'll see if this happens.