Carmelo Anthony Rumors: Could Tonight's Game Really Be Melo's Last With Nuggets?

“Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell.” – Shana Alexander

“Rumor is not always wrong.” – Publius Cornelius Tacitus

Rumors have flown around the sporting world about Carmelo Anthony since he decided not to sign his three-year $65 million extension with the Denver Nuggets some eight months ago and they continue to as the trade deadline is only a week away.

The All Star break begins now for the Nuggets, they don't play again until Feb. 22 and the trade deadline is Feb. 24. If they're going to move him, the time is now because it would be less messy than dismissing him while the team is together.

Carmelo Anthony is a top-10 NBA player, or at least that's what his production has said about him lately.

He's played supremely and specially since the end of January, scoring 30-plus points six times and 40-plus twice.

As the rumors have swirled, Melo's only played smoother, filling up buckets in every arena with that sweet shooter's touch.

Tonight's win against the Bucks, in which Anthony's awesome abilities led him to score 38 points, could conceivably be his penultimate game as a Denver Nugget, and if it is, at least he's treated fans to a show in the last two plus weeks with the team.

Here's a quick look at his top performances over that time that remind Nuggets fans why they fell in love with him in the first place:

Jan. 28 at Cleveland

Carmelo didn't have his best shooting night against the Cavaliers (9-22), but his free throw shooting was nearly perfect (15-18) and he got lots of love from the refs against catastrophically bad Cleveland. In all, he scored 33 points and added seven rebounds and five dimes as well. The Nuggets won in blowout fashion 117-103.

Jan. 31 at New Jersey

Melo shot much better against the Nets (12-22) and was extraordinary from the charity stripe once again (11-13). The superstar scored 37 points, was one rebound shy of a double-double (9 boards), and had two assists.

Despite his great play the Nuggets lost this game, 99-115.

Feb. 4 vs. Utah

Once again, Melo was defended well by the physical Jazz and he struggled from the floor (7-21). But he did make sure to connect on his free throws and was magical from the line (17-18). Melo snagged six rebounds and added an assist to his 31 points.

Again with Anthony's personal successes came a loss, 113-106.

Feb. 7 vs. Houston

Melo was on fire against the Rockets ten days ago, shooting 67 percent on the night (16-24) and once again filling up the bucket from the free throw line (16-18). This was Anthony's most special game of the year. was in the zone and hit the magical 50 point mark while relentlessly rebounding 11 loose balls.

But while Melo enjoyed possibly the game of his career, he couldn't find a teammate for even one assist and the Nuggets lost another game 108-103 to Houston.

Feb. 10 vs. Dallas

Carmelo couldn't be stopped against the Mavericks in the Pepsi Center. He was again in that zone that makes the basket look like the ocean, and he filled it up 17 times in 25 attempts from the floor, including 5-7 from downtown.

Melo scored 42 that night a week ago, with seven rebounds and three dimes, and Denver beat Dallas 121-120, in one of the Nuggets' biggest wins of the season.

If nothing else, Anthony has been exciting to watch in his eight seasons with the Nuggets and he showed how amazing he can be in the last few weeks.And if Denver is to trade him, he's helped their cause by playing lights out and possibly increasing his trade value even more.

What happens next remains to be seen, with the Nuggets and Nets again talking Derrick Favors and two first-round picks for Melo, and New York and Denver discussing a multi-player trade. If this is it for Anthony in a Nuggets uniform, he left fans starstruck with a win and a huge night from the field.

It will be bittersweet to see Melo go. He's not the best player in the league, but he is arguably the best basketball player the Mile High City has ever seen.

Good luck Melo, wherever the wind blows you.

Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist actively seeking a career in journalism. Along with being the CSU Rams Examiner, Kurtzman is a Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos and NBA Featured Columnist for bleacherreport.com, the Colorado/Utah Regional Correspondent for stadiumjourney.com and a weekly contributor to milehighhoops.com.

Rich also heads up PR for K-Biz and Beezy, a Colorado-based rap group.

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