NBA News Roundup, Tuesday, August 20th: Carmelo Anthony to the Detroit Pistons ruled out, Lakers urged to stay away from Dwight Howard and more

While the schedule for the 2019-2020 NBA season was announced last week, opening night is still a little over two months away. Due to this, plenty could still happen ahead of the new campaign, and a number of notable names could be on the move.

Steven Adams, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Love are among the big names being linked with a trade, and a title contender could come along with a major offer. Meanwhile, notable free agents such as Carmelo Anthony, Joakim Noah, and Kenneth Faried remain on the search for a new team.

So, with the potential for plenty to happen in the coming weeks, here are all the latest NBA news and rumors you need to know for August 20th.

---

#1 Detroit Pistons not interested in signing Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony played just 10 times during the 2018-19 NBA season

Carmelo Anthony has been on the search for a new team since leaving the Houston Rockets back in November, although Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press is reporting that the 10-time All-Star won't be linking up with Blake Griffin in Detroit:

The easy answer when it comes to Anthony is the Pistons don’t currently have a roster spot. Why not Anthony instead of (Michael) Beasley? It’s hard to see a player of Anthony’s stature signing up for a glorified tryout.

Since leaving the New York Knicks back in 2017, Melo has endured difficult spells with the Thunder and Rockets. The 35-year-old has been criticized for his inability to adapt to his game to the current climate of the NBA, although many still see Melo as someone who can make a difference from the bench. A move to the Pistons now seems out of the question, although Anthony has been linked with the Los Angeles Lakers.

#2 J.J. Barea signs one-year extension with the Mavericks; eyes return from injury

J.J. Barea is looking forward to returning for the Dallas Mavericks

J.J. Barea ruptured his right Achilles tendon back in January and the point guard was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the season. The seriousness of the injury cast doubt on Barea's future in the league, although ESPN's Tim MacMahon is reporting that the veteran has signed a new one-year deal with the Mavs, and is set to return in the coming weeks.

J.J. Barea signed a one-year veteran’s minimum deal with the Mavs today, he said. Barea, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, expects to be cleared to fully participate in training camp.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) August 19, 2019

Despite playing an important role for the Mavericks over the past five seasons, Barea faces intense competition ahead of the new campaign. The Mavericks added Seth Curry and Delon Wright in free agency, while Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson are expected to start in the backcourt. This leaves Barea facing an uphill battle, although the 35-year-old will be confident of breaking into the rotation after successfully coming back from a serious injury.

#3 The Los Angeles Lakers would be 'insane' to sign Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard spent the 18-19 season with the Washington Wizards

Over the past 48 hours, multiple sources have confirmed that the Los Angeles Lakers have engaged in talks with the Memphis Grizzlies to sign Dwight Howard. The Lakers want to bring in an experienced center due to DeMarcus Cousins' recent injury setback, and Howard is among the most notable bigs available.

However, during an appearance on ESPN's 'The Jump', Brian Windhorst expressed his belief that the Lakers would be making a mistake by signing the former All-Star:

I think the Lakers would be insane to bring in Dwight Howard. Let’s just put aside the fact that he’s repeatedly had issues within the locker room and with his last few teams.

Howard is noted around the NBA as a disruptive force in the locker room, and the 33-year-old clashed with Kobe Bryant during his spell with the Lakers during the 2012-13 season.