Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: 10 Reasons Melo Should Wait For Free Agency
There are no shortage of rumors about where Carmelo Anthony might be going. He's been said to be going to New York or New Jersey. Chicago and Dallas also have been said to have a serious interest in him. Now rumors are coming out that the Lakers might make a pitch for him.
There are reasons for Anthony to go somewhere but there are also reasons for him to stay in Denver and wait until Free Agency kicks in. Here are ten reasons why.
10: He's Not LeBron James
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The first reason he should stay and finish out the season is simple. He's not LeBron James. I don't mean that as a slam on James, I mean it as a realistic look at Anthony. He is a brilliant scorer, sitting 15th all time in points per game, but that's about it.
He only averages a bit over six rebounds a game and 3.1 assists per game to go with his 24.7 points. That's respectable, but it's not LeBronesque. People tend too try and elevate Anthony to a higher standard than he is. He's not going to be the kind of difference maker that James is, but he will be a difference maker in the right situation.
There's an expression, "It's better to keep your mouth shut and thought a fool than to open it and prove you are one." That's Anthony's situation right now. If he goes somewhere and doesn't make them an instant championship contender he will "prove" that he's not LeBron.
Without a preseason to work into a new offense and build chemistry with a new season, he's highly unlikely to help a team get to the next level in the time remaining this season. For that reason he's better off waiting and joining his new teammates next year.
9: He Is Under Contract
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There was a lot of negativity surrounding Chris Paul's suggestions that he'd like to be traded. Whatever your feelings about Chris Bosh and LeBron James are, at least they finished out their contracts. Anthony should finish out his too. He's been payed a lot of money to help the Nuggets. He should honor his commitment and do so.
Doing that instead of forcing the Nuggets into a trade situation would be good for his image.
8: He Can Keep All His Options Open
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There is no doubt that playing in New York with Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton would make for a very nice trio. However, it's only one option. Why not keep all his options open? Right now he's limited to teams that can work out a trade. Next year he can have many more options. More options than fewer. Sure, he might end up going to New York anyway, but why not see what else happens in the off-season?
7: It's Better for the Wallet
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Right now the NBA is doing well. However there's a collective bargaining situation going on, which much like the NFL's could bode trouble in the future if it's not resolved. If there is a stoppage in play next year the fans are going to be unhappy about it. Anthony getting his name mixed up in things might not be good for his Q rating if he's perceived as manipulating the team and that would be bad for endorsement deals.
As far as his contract goes, it's not likely to make any difference in money, but endorsements can mean as much or more than salaries, especially if he ends up in New York. It's a good deal for his wallet to wait.
6. It's Better for His Next Team
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The Nets shut the door on trade talks because the Nuggets were asking too much. If that trade had gone through there would have been a star in New Jersey, but it might have been a doomed future for Anthony. The more the team has to give up to get him, the less he has around him wherever he ends up. If he waits until free agency and gets a sign and trade deal done, then it's better for the team he goes to, which in turn is better for him. If he wants to be on a contender the best thing to do is wait.
5: The Collective Bargaining Agreement
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Along the same lines is the next contract itself. Anthony will be better served to wait out the current situation to find out what the new Collective Bargaining Agreement looks like. If he signs something now it could be bad for the team he goes to economically. He doesn't want to put his new team in a situation where they are unable to make any other moves.
4: He Owes It to George Karl
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Last year George Karl survived cancer. This year he needs to survive the soap opera "Melo Drama." This coincides with an expiring contract. Anthony owes a lot of his success to the coaching of Karl who has been his head coach for all but two of the years he's played. Anthony should commit to the team by openly stating he wants to finish his contract with the Nuggets and give Karl leverage in his negotiations.
3: He Owes It to His Teammates
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It's not good for a team to have so much speculation about whether their most important player is going to be there tomorrow. The best way for Anthony to let his teammates know he's their teammate too is to commit to the team.
The Nuggets are a good team that can go deep in the playoffs, and when they are at their best they could challenge any team in the NBA in a seven game series. However, in order to be at their best they can't have doubts swimming in the back of their minds about tomorrow. Anthony should close the door on trade talks for his team.
2: He Owes It to Denver
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In his entire career Anthony has made it past the first round only one time. Denver has been behind their team and Anthony and now it's his turn to show up. With the West possibly as open as it has been in some time, this could be an upset playoff run for Denver. They have an offense that keep up with the Spurs' surprisingly potent attack. Finishing the year could give Denver fans real hope.
1: He Owes It to Himself
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Here's the bottom line of it all: Carmelo owes it to himself. If he wants to elevate his name to another level then he should finish the season with Denver and lead them to the promised land. It would bring him up to another whole level of success and stardom. It would doubtless be a much greater story than if he were to go somewhere else this year and get bounced in the first round.
