Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Is the Denver Nuggets Star Finally on the Move?
It all started this past summer. Carmelo Anthony, fresh off of yet another frustratingly early playoff exit, watched his fellow 2003 draft classmates LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh join forces.
Melo saw who his one-time equal, LeBron James, was bringing to war with him and it made him feel like he was bringing a knife to a gunfight. The seven consecutive playoff appearances, three straight 50-win seasons and the trip to the Western Conference Finals just two years ago meant zilch. Anthony strolled around the block and took notice that his lawn wasn't quite as green as some of his fellow stars.
Ironically, Carmelo had the opportunity to do precisely what James, Wade and Bosh did this past summer. Each of those three agreed to abbreviated contract extensions a few years ago with their respective teams. They all became free agents simultaneously, and decided to call South Beach home.
Anthony had that option, but instead chose to sign for more years and now finds himself in this quagmire. It's like a spoiled kid wanting to go on a roller coast one more time, then complaining that he's feeling sick. You made your bed, Melo, now sleep.
Thus began a mercurial summer for Anthony, who surprisingly opted to not sign a three-year, $65 million pact with the Nuggets. It sent shockwaves through Denver when he made it clear he wanted out of town. What the fans in Colorado are still waiting to find out is why.
Anthony is yet to formerly announce that he asked for a trade. Of course we know he wants out, but he himself has not said so. It's been a wildfire of daily Internet rumors. Melo has hidden behind his makeshift excuses and his half-hearted cliches, while leaving the NBA world and particularly Denver begging to ask...why does he want to leave the only NBA city he's ever known?
The Nuggets are the No. 1 scoring team in the league at 107.6 per, plays alongside Nene (who's enjoying an All-Star caliber season), one of the most clutch point guards in the game today in Chauncey Billups, and a roster full of capable NBA players like J.R. Smith, Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen and Al Harrington.
Are they as deep as the Celtics or Lakers? Of course not, but they're not as far away as you may think. And Melo could certainly do worse in terms of talent around him. New Jersey, for starters, would be a massive downgrade.
Months have passed, and the situation remains as awkwardness and contentious as imaginable.
There was a few week stretch where Denver fans lustily booed their once beloved figure (who could blame them? He raised his proverbial middle finger to the fans who've loved him unconditionally since 2003), but despite all the distraction of the trade talk (which he unquestionably brought upon himself) Denver is trucking along at a respectable 30-21 record. That mark is good enough for second in the ultra-competitive Northwest Division.
One look at how the Cleveland Cavaliers as an organization turned out after losing LeBron and getting nothing has the Nuggets frantically looking to either appease their disgruntled star or trade him before he signs elsewhere and they get zero compensation.
There was extended conversation with the New Jersey Nets and brief flirtation with the New York Knicks, but the underlying issue for both franchises is whether Carmelo would willingly put his pen to paper and sign an extension.
Rumors are swirling that the Knicks, Nuggets and Timberwolves have been secretly entertaining offers in recent days, with the Knicks putting forth by far their strongest effort to land Anthony.
It was a few weeks ago that New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov emphatically put his foot down and grew tired of the trade talks that yielded nothing. That put all the more pressure on this trade to get executed from Denver's standpoint, because it's their last opportunity to attain some valuable commodities for their four-time All-Star.
The teams that would potentially acquire Anthony aren't the only ones dealing with uncertainty. Anthony himself seems quite unsure of his future, both immediate and long-term.
"The CBA is in the back of my mind, but as far as being a free agent to play this out, if that's what it's going to take, then so be it. I'm with that," Anthony said. "If it's playing this year out and then going back to the drawing table, sitting down with Denver and trying to figure it out, or if I basically move on, I'm willing to do that."
Read between the lines. Carmelo is saying he's gone, albeit in the most vague fashion possible. Whether it happens before the trade deadline on February 24 or if he has to wait until his pending free agency this summer, make no mistake. The eight-year veteran has one foot out the door in Denver.
Most insiders maintain that the only reason a deal hasn't been agreed upon is Carmelo's reluctance to sign a new contract with the acquiring club. His recent quote was both confusing and telling of his desires.
"If I sit here and say I'm willing to lose 15 or 20 million dollars, I'd be lying to you," Anthony said. "But at the same time this has never been about money. In my career so far I think I've made enough money. Now I'm focused on trying to win a championship. That's the only thing that's on my plate and on my mind right now."
To recap, he's not willing to leave money on the table, but it's never been about the money. That's like me saying I can't stop gambling, but I don't have an addiction.
The truth is Carmelo doesn't know what he wants. He just knows what he wants isn't in Denver.
