Carmelo Anthony Trade: NBA Community Needs To Stop Criticizing Melo

It is about time to stop the trade speculations about Carmelo Anthony, or at least, any speculation that involves the degradation of Carmelo Anthony as a player or a person.

As the days go on, many talented writers and analysts have investigated a variety of creative scenarios that would land Carmelo on another team by the February trade deadline. Some of these trades proposed have been very interesting and seem to benefit all players included. 

In all honesty, some of these trades make so much sense it is hard to believe they have not been pulled off. The problem with these speculations is that they often include negative remarks to Anthony as a player and person.

But what about what Anthony wants? Players, managers, presidents, writers, bloggers, and even fans can say whatever they want to say, but this is Carmelo’s decision. 

People tend to forget Carmelo is a human being and that basketball is his profession.  Yes, part of his profession is being an entertainer, but that does not mean he is forced to please a city and a crowd he did not choose to begin with. 

As a professional, he has the duty of entertaining fans and media wherever he is, but he also has the choice to chose who those fans and media are.

Getting drafted in the NBA is the same as getting your first job. You might be lucky and be drafted to the city you want to play in, or you might not. An engineer, a lawyer, or a doctor might find themselves working wherever they get a solid job in their early career.

Some might stay in that location for the rest of their career, but some might not.  Anthony is in a position were he has reached a level of personal success that allows him to choose where he can go next, no differently than a famous lawyer, engineer or doctor.

People around the league have criticized Carmelo because of his reluctance to sign an extension with the Denver Nuggets. The fact is that, even though he has not signed the extension, he has never stopped playing hard for the team and trying to get a win every time he is on the court. He has not given up on his teammates or his fans. 

Carmelo has nothing against Denver and their fans. He just prefers to move back to his hometown, something that benefits himself personally and professionally. His family is from New York, and his wife’s career would thrive in The Big Apple. 

As a side benefit, he will also have the opportunity to market his endorsed products in a bigger market. It makes sense in many ways.

So fans, writers, bloggers, managers, and presidents, here is my request from you. Stop criticizing a man for making a choice that he has the right to make, which benefits his personal and professional life significantly. Put yourself in his shoes and realize this is not only a matter of basketball. 

This is a human being’s life, and after all, life is about being comfortable and happy. If Carmelo wants to find this in New York, where he has already had a life he enjoyed, let him be.