NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Disrespecting Denver Nuggets Faithful

It's disgusting, childish and downright pathetic. 

Professional athletes demanding a trade, after being paid millions upon millions of dollars, simply because they aren't happy is ridiculous.

Carmelo Anthony certainly isn't the first, and he sure as hell won't be the last. Any player who demands a trade, regardless of team, position, race or religious background, stands to be scorned by the media and his fans. 'Melo just happens to be the most recent.

Anthony has enjoyed a moderate level of success during his tenure with the Denver Nuggets. He helped turn the franchise around from their bottom-dwelling days to where they are now. Maybe they haven't won titles or gotten to the finals, but they have still been one of the better teams in the league.

Owners and agents are just as slimy and rotten as the players in these situations, so I take no pity on them.

But the fans, they are the ones who suffer.

They headed out to the Pepsi Center 41 times a year and cheer on Anthony. They defended him after that nasty brawl at Madison Square Garden. They stuck up for him when panelists began debating who was better in the draft class: Wade or LeBron?

And now this is how he repays them? By going through the motions for 35 minutes a night? Sure, his scoring is still there and the team is winning more than they are losing, but things just aren't right.

Anthony looks disinterested or unamused. He settles for jumpers more than he should. In a nutshell, he just doesn't give a damn.

If Carmelo truly wanted out of Denver, I have no problem with that. But wait until your contract is up. Don't float trade rumors out there and force the team to deal you for 50 cents on the dollar. Don't half-ass it for an entire season while your team barely makes the playoffs.

You would think that for $18 million a year, Anthony could be persuaded into caring just a little bit more.

Imagine if a top executive for a company tried to pull that trick. He came to the office everyday and did his work, but not nearly as efficiently as he could. He hinted to his coworkers that he was leaving for a better company, while the one he is with flounders due to his apathy. 

That wouldn't fly at all. So why do we let it in professional sports?

Yes, athletes make tremendous sums of money. But they are still people. They should be held accountable for their actions. Guys like Carmelo shouldn't be allowed to loaf around for an entire season. 

He shouldn't do it. But no one is going to stop him.