Miami Heat: 10 Reasons Team Thrice Doesn't Fear Wherever Carmelo Anthony Ends Up
The Miami Heat has caused a ton of commotion for the NBA brand these past 90 days. It’s prompted the kind of chatter that has kept the NBA brand relevant in what is suppose to be its offseason.
The biggest headline without question has to be the Miami signings of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. It was the kind of beauty that apparently only one man could foresee being a reality.
That man is Pat Riley—Miami Heat's president of basketball operations.
The foresight of Riley to plan ahead and actually execute the coupling of three top ten players has sparked debate of a “Super Team” era returning to the NBA.
At the forefront of a possible next three-headed juggernaut being formed is Carmelo Anthony.
Somehow, wherever Anthony lands is being advertised as a possible threat to the success of Riley’s newly assembled Heat team. I can’t begin to understand how any person with half a clue on matters of the NBA would even indulge in such fallacies.
Anything short of Anthony being dealt to the Lakers, Celtics, or Orlando Magic won’t cause much concern for the Miami Heat.
10. Baby Momma Drama
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Carmelo Anthony was recently married to his long time girlfriend and mother of his son, La La Vazquez. Rumors have it that La La has made it known to Anthony that she desires to be in a market that will allow them to spend more time together while she maintains her Hollywood career.
This limits the numbers of teams that Anthony will be willing to join because only a few teams have a large enough media market to entice La La to give her new husband the go-ahead.
Anthony needs La La to take a step back from her own aspirations in order for Anthony to pursue better options. Holding his destination hostage only hurts his pursuit of a NBA title.
9. Off The Court Dealings
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Anthony has a taste for the night life, and it’s fueled by his wife being heavily involved with the celebrity scene. Anthony has already had situations cost him games because of this unneeded indulgence.
He’s been arrested for driving drunk and as shown in the picture, he’s deteriorating his physical abilities with his taste for liquor and quality smokes.
Sure, other players go out and party, but I’m sure few of them won a title doing so. Anthony’s priorities aren’t in order, and until they are, he won’t be causing the Heat much of a concern.
8. Not a Good Enough Work Ethic
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Anthony will need to be at a physical peak that trumps that of LeBron James. This is mainly because it will be his duty to keep James in check as well as carry his club offensively.
It isn’t logical that Anthony will have two better teammates than James has in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. That means he’ll have to be in that much better condition to exceed whatever drop off in talents his teammates may face.
Currently, Anthony doesn’t have that kind of commitment to his body and its condition.
7. Wants To Play In a Major Market
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Anthony‘s a top five talent and he knows it. Only a handful of players can actually dominate all 29 alternate teams in this league, and he understands he’s one of them.
Like all great players that are equally great showman, he wants to be on a stage that is worthy of his talents.
Problem is, most of the major market teams are either locked up with contracts that prevent a deal for him being possible without ruining the nucleus of the franchise or they just aren’t places he wants to go.
6. Teams Will Not Be Willing To Help Create Another Miami Situation
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NBA GM’s aren’t the brightest of minds in regards to basketball, even though one would think they should be. With Pat Riley embarrassing over 80 percent of the NBA front offices, everyone has been put on notice.
No longer will teams blindly help teams clear cap space. They’ll notice the pieces falling wherever Anthony may land.
5. Isn't a Good Enough Leader
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To Anthony’s credit and unlike any of the Heat’s top three players, he has managed to guide his club to the NBA playoffs each year he’s been in the league.
However, rarely has he ever been associated with being a great leader. He’s viewed primarily as a productive player who excels in getting his numbers but isn’t that great at communicating his desires to his teammates.
Anthony is as great a competitor as anyone in the league, but until he finds a way to bring out that characteristic in his teammates. He’ll never be able to truly threaten the Heat’s pending dynasty.
4. His Window For Success Is On Heat Time
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Carmelo Anthony is unfortunately older than LeBron James, the same age as Chris Bosh, and two years younger than Dwyane Wade. His window for success is limited at best.
He has arguably five to seven more years of high level play, and that’s if the injury bug is kind to him. Only one problem: The super team of Miami is under contract for basically the same duration.
Anthony needs a team assembled quickly to take full advantage of his youth. Too bad any team that lands him will arguably be on a two to three year plan to properly build around him.
3. Dwyane Wade Isn't His Teammate
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Wade is a top three player and is in the prime of his career. At age 28, he’s poised to remain a top three player for another three to five years.
With Wade being arguably the best player in the game, it’s hard to foresee Anthony being able to find a teammate that can contain or out-produce Wade.
Factor in Wade’s uncanny ability to raise his game when needed most, and it’s hard to see how any team could possibly derail this train from its tracks.
2. LeBron James Isn't Retiring Any Time Soon
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Carmelo Anthony is a beast in his own right, but LeBron is the king of all beasts residing on planet Earth. Being that Anthony plays the same position as James is enough to put the Heat over wherever he lands.
James is often viewed as the best player in the NBA. That’s very debatable. What isn’t debatable, however, is the fact that he’s the most difficult player to match up against in the NBA.
His unique blend of talent, skill, and physical dominance allows James to play the most efficient basketball of all 450 plus NBA players.
1. The Blueprint Can't and Won't Be Duplicated
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Pat Riley is firmly implanted in the Heat organization. He was the only one with the foresight to see and the historical backing to pull off the "Super Friends" team-up.
There isn’t a GM in the NBA with the clout of Riley. So, the likelihood of his 2010 decisions happening again is minimal at best.
This was a one time deal and Pat Riley and the Heat organization pulled off what was viewed as impossible. This is one act that can’t and won’t be duplicated.
In Conclusion
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Anthony has no one to blame for him not being a part of a trio or foursome in Miami. Back when Wade, James, and Bosh all signed contract extensions for three years, they urged Anthony to do the same.
But like so many times before in his life, Anthony rolled the dice in an unfavorable situation. And for what, to be different than those who have your best interest at hand?
Well now he gets to watch his gold-medal winning teammates chase championships while he’s relegated to chasing everything but.
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