Carmelo Anthony To Knicks: 10 Ways the Nuggets Can Avoid Turning Into the Cavs
Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks has finally happened and now that Anthony has left, it's time to take a look at his former team, the Denver Nuggets.
We've all seen what happens to a team when a superstar leaves in Cleveland. If Denver wants to avoid this fate, certain actions have to be taken. With that in mind, here are 10 things the Nuggets can do to avoid the fate of the Cavaliers.
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No. 10: Move On From 'Melo
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Even at the beginning of this year, the ghost of LeBron James hung over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Denver needs to just cut all ties with the memory of Carmelo Anthony and focus on the guys that are on the roster right now. The longer the hangover is from all of this, the harder it will be to move on and build the team back up.
Cleveland still looks like a team that is punch-drunk from the summer.
No. 9: Keep Morale High
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To start the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers looked like a team that might be able to rally around each other.
The team wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either and once the Cavs got beaten down by Miami in their own building, with their former star and teammate rubbing salt in the wound created when he went to South Beach, the team never recovered.
Denver has to keep believing, otherwise, the Nuggets are destined to fall flat on their faces.
No. 8: Keep Your Options Open
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Now that Denver has made the the move to deal Carmelo Anthony, there are a couple options.
The Nuggets could try and make this current roster as it is and let it play out into the offseason, or it can deal some of their talent. There is plenty of flexibility for the Nuggets and they need to keep it that way. Cleveland, on the other hand, doesn't have much talent it can move but does have a large trade exception.
If Denver can keep its options open, it can compete while also re-tooling at the same time.
No. 7: Don't Be Afraid To Spend
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As of right now, Denver is going to have some money to spend this offseason.
We don't know what the salary cap number is going to be, but if the Nuggets have room to make a move, they should certainly explore using that money to pick up some pieces. If a guy like J.R. Smith hangs around until the end of the season, that's a good chunk of money, a little over $6 million, to spend plus some other expiring contracts.
The Nuggets just cannot rest in the offseason and be satisfied with being average.
No. 6: Keep Expectations Realistic
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When LeBron James left, Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert did something foolish.
He wrote a letter to the fans of the Cavaliers, ripping James and talking about his vision for the franchise going forward. In the letter, he said that the Cavs were going to win a championship before LeBron ever did in Miami. Simply enough, you don't do that to a team that is still reeling after losing its heart and soul.
Cleveland folded under that pressure and haven't been the same. If Denver comes to grips with what it is and what it isn't, and sets realistic goals, the Nuggets will be much better off.
No. 5: Keep George Karl
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George Karl's contract is up at the end of the season.
If Denver wants to keep things rolling as the team tries to rebuild, the Nuggets have to keep their coach past this season. Karl has a vision for this team and was in the know when Denver pulled the trigger on this deal.
Karl can keep pointing the team in the right direction and keep the system in place. A new coach and put a wrench in those plans.
No. 4: Use Assets Wisely
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One thing Denver got was a couple of draft picks it can use to rebuild the team.
The Nuggets need to do their diligence in using those picks to get the best players possible and use some of its pieces to possibly get some more. Denver has the flexibility and the talent to get some extra picks or some other spare pieces.
If Denver is going to keep testing the market, the Nuggets have to make sure each move they make is the right one. If it's a bad move, it could set Denver back more than people realize.
No. 3: Allow Ty Lawson To Develop
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Ty Lawson is the point guard of the future.
Even though Raymond Felton will be on the roster, Lawson is the guy that Denver has to develop. The Nuggets have to let him go out there, make his own mistakes and get better as a player. Otherwise, it's going to hurt Denver in the long run.
Lawson has a ton of potential and can now realize it with Chauncey Billups gone.
No. 2: Keep Working The Market
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Denver has dealt its superstar, but it can't stop now.
The Nuggets have assets and now that Carmelo Anthony is gone, other teams will be looking to make moves and Denver has pieces that can be moved. Danilo Gallinari is one name that could be moved, but the Nuggets are reportedly higher on Gallinari than it seemed during the trade negotiations.
There is the potential to get better at the deadline as teams look to sell off assets and make moves as they get ready for the offseason.
No. 1: Re-Sign Nene
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Nene is going to be a free agent and Denver has to keep the big man.
He loves the city, Denver loves him. Tthe two sides have to come together at some point and hash a new deal out. The man is one of the most solid big men in the league and it seems like a perfect marriage and there's no reason to ruin it.
Nene isn't a guy that you can build around, but he's certainly a guy that can be a piece of a team that makes a championship run.
