Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: 10 Reasons Melo Shouldn't Resist New Jersey Nets
Dear Carmelo Anthony, star forward for the NBA's Denver Nuggets,
How's it going? I hope you are doing well.
I've been hearing that you are hesitant to sign an extension with the New Jersey Nets. I understand, they were awful last year and aren't looking much better this year. They currently look to be a few years away from being relevant.
Still, I think you should reconsider.
You're going somewhere, we all know that. The Nets have some players you might be interested in playing with. Some say you are smitten with playing alongside Amar'e Stoudemire in New York, but why play second-fiddle when you can be the man?
The latest round of negotiations between the Nets and your Nuggets has reportedly left New Jersey's front office exasperated, and they are threatening to take themselves out of the ring.
Phooey, I say. The Nets have more to offer Denver than any other team currently vying for your services—talents, if I dare—with their multitude of draft picks, a rookie with some potential in Derrick Favors and Troy Murphy's expiring contract.
We also know the Nets want you. There's no way they're giving up this easy.
So Melo (may I call you Melo?), let's stop playing footsie here and get serious.
Still not convinced, eh? It's okay, I'm persistent. I believe I can change your mind.
Here are 10 reasons you should give into the temptation and stop resisting the New Jersey Nets.
10. You'll Still Be Close to Your Family
1 of 10
First off, allow me to offer you my condolences for the loss of your sister. It's a tough thing to deal with so close to the holidays.
Understandably so, you have expressed a desire to be closer to your hometown of Baltimore, Md. Of course, playing for the Washington Wizards would best accomplish that goal, but why would you want to go there?
The Nets are currently playing ball in Newark, N.J., which, if you are unaware, is closer to B-More than anywhere in New York City.
When the Nets move to Brooklyn in 2012, where you spent the first eight years of your life, you'll still be just as close to your former stomping grounds as you would be playing for the Knicks.
I can see I've piqued your interest. Please, continue reading. You won't regret it.
9. Why Would You Want To Live in Manhattan Anyway?
2 of 10
Manhattan, the borough the Knicks call home, is more densely populated, less diverse and pricier than Brooklyn, the Nets' future home.
Times Square is great, but when you're living there the crowds can get a little old. That is not to say that Brooklyn does not have its fair share of residents, they just aren't as crammed in there as they are in Manhattan.
Brooklyn also has a good number of historic sites and attractions in the Green-Wood Cemetery, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and Coney Island.
And since we're all looking to save money in this economic climate, the bars in BK serve PBR for three dollars.
I'm sure you'd have just as good a time in Brooklyn as you would in Manhattan.
If worse comes to worse, all you've got to do is cross the Brooklyn Bridge to get to that other borough.
8. Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z
3 of 10
One of the reasons Nets fans were excited about Mikhail Prokhorov taking over the team was that many believed he would be better able to relate to you NBA players than some of the league's older owners.
Prokhorov has plenty of money and is willing to spend it. As his Jet-Ski video shows, he also likes to have a good time, which would serve you well Mr. Anthony.
We also have famous rapper Jay-Z on board. The three of you could undoubtedly have some fun out on the town together.
Jay's wife, Beyonce, would also provide good company for your sweetheart, La La Vasquez.
It's a no lose situation for you. You'll have young guys with money to hang out with and your wife will have a friend as well.
.png?w=256)
7. If You Wait Until the Offseason To Switch Teams, You'll Lose Money
4 of 10
Oh, I have your undivided attention now, don't I?
The NBA and the Player's Association are currently negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, and both sides are talking lockout.
Even if no games are missed, there will likely be a restructuring in terms of how much players make. There could be new pay scales for veterans and max-deal players, as well as a lower salary cap.
None of this bodes well for your own negotiating when it comes to this offseason.
You'd be better off either signing the extension with Denver, which you clearly do not want to do, or accepting a trade and signing a long-term contract with the team you're dealt to.
Even when the Nuggets eventually get desperate near the February trade deadline and will need to accept a lesser offer to unload you, the Nets will still have the most to offer.
They also have a very good amount of room for player salaries in the coming years, so you will be rewarded handsomely.
6. Do You Really Want To Deal with Those Knick Fans?
5 of 10
Denver fans have been very kind to you, Carmelo.
If you tried to pull the stunt you are right now by not signing a contract extension in, say, a New York Knicks uniform, the fans would not be nearly as nice to you.
Have Nuggets fans ever even booed you?
Expectations would be extremely high with you playing 41 games in Madison Square Garden. The fans would not deal with any type of letdown well and the media pressure would be more intense than you have probably ever felt.
This would not be the case in New Jersey.
Sure, there would be hopeful fans who expect you to play well, but they'd be more willing to give it some time. Even when the team moves to Brooklyn, the majority of fans will be those who already liked the Nets or new fans who just don't want to root for the Knicks.
Frankly, they'll just be happy to have a competitive team again and would support you in a similar fashion to those in Colorado.
And if you're worried about star power, Spike Lee grew up in Brooklyn. He's said that he'll never switch sides, but who knows? If you can deliver the goods he'll surely come to watch.
5. The Nets Are Not That Far Removed from the Glory Years
6 of 10
It wasn't all that long ago that the Nets made consecutive NBA Finals appearances.
New Jersey was in both the 2002 and 2003 Finals, but were unfortunately overmatched against the L.A. Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.
"How does this affect me?" I hear you asking.
The point is that the essence of winning is still closer to the Nets than it is the Knicks.
By the way, the last time New York made the playoffs, the 2003-04 season, they were quickly dispatched by, you guessed it, the New Jersey Nets in a 4-0 sweep.
With you on the team it would not take as long as you may fear to make it back.
The Nets also won their two ABA Championships back when they played in New York in 1974 and 1976. A move back to the city could mean a return to their winning ways, and you, yes you, can be a huge part of it.
4. Mike D'Antoni's Scheme Has Been Proven to Fail in the Playoffs
7 of 10
Hey, the Knicks are fun to watch. And Mike D'Antoni's teams in Phoenix were even more exciting.
The Suns were, and the Knicks are, seemingly able to score at will. The problem is that they can't stop anyone.
Phoenix was routinely done in by teams who could score with them while providing the occasional defensive stop. Many can remember the Spurs out-Sunning the Suns by keeping up with their scoring pace, but ultimately winning when they were able to come up with the defensive execution that Phoenix could not.
Why would it be any different for the Knicks?
They can score, there's no doubt about that. They are currently near the bottom of the league in both opponent points and opponent field-goal percentage, however, and are at least nine spots below the Nets in both categories.
Avery Johnson, New Jersey's main man, has been to the NBA Finals as a coach and has won a title as a player.
He knows how to get it done.
New Jersey's main problem is their propensity to go on long scoring droughts, a problem dating back to last year.
You could fix that!
All Johnson would want you to do is play some defense and rebound, and you're already known as a way above-average rebounding small forward.
This could really work out for you.
3. The Supporting Cast in New Jersey Is Better Than You Think
8 of 10
Reports are that you would be willing to sign an extension with New Jersey, but not unless they brought back some good talent with you.
I'm here to tell you that that is not necessary.
The 9-25 record the Nets are currently sporting is not very fashionable, but remember that they have had some injury issues.
When everyone is healthy, they are not as bad as many think.
The team has a franchise center in development named Brook Lopez. They also have an All-Star point guard in Devin Harris. I'll have more on him later.
Although he is currently unable to perform due to a hamstring injury, the Nets also have Anthony Morrow—statistically the second-best three-point shooter in NBA history in terms of percentage.
There are also solid role players in Kris Humphries, a rebounding machine, and Sasha Vujacic, whom has played very well since coming to New Jersey. You might also recall him hitting the clinching free throws in Game Seven of last season's Finals.
They also have a good rookie in Damion James. He'll probably never be an All-Star, but he plays hard and is tough.
Need proof? James played an entire game this year with a broken foot that later required surgery.
When everyone is back in the mix, the team is not as bad as its record suggests. With you in the fold, the team is a lock for the postseason.
2. Holding Out For Other Players Will Cost You Devin Harris
9 of 10
Devin Harris was an All-Star in 2009. He had his best statistical year then, averaging 21.3 PPG and 6.9 APG.
Want to know why?
He had a top-flight scorer to play with in Vince Carter.
Harris was able to take advantage of Carter's presence on the perimeter and have an excellent season. He tries to rack up the assists now, but there just aren't enough guys who can knock down shots.
I think you can help him out, and the combination of you two, along with Brook Lopez on the inside, could prove quite formidable.
The only problem with this is that you are saying you want the Nets to get better players on the team in any trade involving you.
Based on recent reports, the only way they could do this is to trade Harris.
This would not help matters.
Sucking it up and accepting, or demanding, a trade to the Nets would greatly benefit the team as currently assembled with Harris, Lopez and you as the centerpieces.
Your individual career could get a boost as well.
Denver is trying to get New Jersey to pony up all five of their future first round draft picks in a deal for you, but that is not going to happen.
The Nets will still likely have multiple picks in upcoming drafts with which they can trade up or select top-notch college players.
Being able to build around you, Harris and Lopez would accelerate things.
1. You Could Be the Franchise Savior
10 of 10
You're starting to enjoy this, I see.
If you went to the Knicks, while you would still be much heralded, Amar'e would still get most of the credit. He got there before you and it looks like he'll be leading the team to the playoffs and could win the MVP award.
You'll kind of, sort of, be viewed as a sidekick in New York.
If you went to the Nets, you would be the savior! The king! The hero!
Devin Harris and Brook Lopez are the cornerstones of the team, but you would be the guy who put them over the top, into the playoffs and possibly made them champions.
You could be a legend, whereas you would be the guy that helped out Mr. Stoudemire with the Knicks.
These are the reasons you should stop fighting the urge and give yourself to the New Jersey Nets. I'll give you some time to sleep on it, and I'm sure you'll make the right decision in the end.
Sincerely,
Ryan Comstock, New Jersey Nets fan and Featured Columnist here on Bleacher Report
.png?w=480)
