Carmelo Anthony Trade: What's Next For The Denver Nuggets?
After the Carmelo Anthony trade, the Denver Nuggets are in rebuilding mode, but the Nuggets are still in great shape despite the loss of their superstar player.
They are currently in the playoffs, and still have enough talent to remain a seventh or eighth seed. But the Nuggets will not be a playoff threat.
Along with losing Anthony, they lost experienced point guard Chauncey Billups, one of two active PGs with a Finals MVP.
The teams has so many new faces coming in, it will take a while to determine possible roster combinations and playing time. Denver would best be suited to forget about any title hopes and spend the rest of this season letting its young players play.
It can then rebuild in the offseason, either through the draft or free agency.
Although Denver will not be in contention this year, it still has a talented team. Center Nene is having his best year ever, averaging 15 points per game and leading the NBA in field goal percentage.
Young guards Aaron Afflalo and Ty Lawson are bright spots as well. Both have made many strides this year, averaging over 10 points per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field.
Then there's the influx of talent Denver acquired. Guards Wilson Chandler, Ray Felton and Danilo Gallinari all average 16-plus points a game. Felton is also averaging a career-high nine assists, while Gallinari is one of the deadliest 3-point shooters in the league.
Although Denver fans will be sad to see Melo leave, they have a lot of young talent to look forward to.
Even coach George Karl could not contain his excitement, saying "I'm 100 percent behind the decision we made," late Monday after news broke that Anthony had been traded (Mike Mazzeo and Ian Begley, ESPNNewYork.com).
Denver still needs to rid itself of two large contracts—those of Al Harrington and Kenyon Martin. Either could be dealt before the trade deadline, as reports are already surfacing that the Nuggets are now looking to trade the newly acquired Gallinari.
The best scenario for the Nuggets is to play this season out, evaluate the players they have and clear up some more cap space.
Then, in the 2012 offseason, they can go after a big name free agents—players such as Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and Kevin Love will all be available.
Winston Churchill once said "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction."
Although it will take time for results, this move needed to be made by Denver. Sometimes, change can be a good thing.
