Carmelo Anthony likely to go

[Spencer Hawes]

All signs continue to point toward the eventual divorce between Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets.

League sources say it is now a matter of when, not if, Anthony and the Nuggets will go their separate ways.



Anthony

Anthony is weighing whether to sign a three-year, $65 million extension offered by the Nuggets. His dilemma, league sources say, is what affords him the best chance of continuing his career elsewhere. Anthony could sign with Denver and convince the team to then trade him. His other option would be to not sign the extension, thereby forcing the team to move him rather than risk losing him next summer as a free agent.

During his annual basketball camp in Colorado on Saturday, Anthony said he had no timetable on when he'll decide whether to sign the extension.

In either case, "he's going to make it real clear that he's not coming back," said one league source.

But both Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke and Anthony already are well aware that they don't have a future together, sources say. That became clear to Kroenke at a reception after Anthony's July 11 nuptials to La La Vasquez in Manhattan.

A series of toasts at the wedding reception, initiated by New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, suggested Anthony leave Denver for the New York Knicks. Paul suggested it playfully, one source said, but subsequent guests -- including Knicks power forward Amare Stoudemire and Anthony's brother, Robert -- made the point more forcefully.

Then Kroenke stood up to give a toast and the room was filled with an awkward silence, one wedding guest said. Kroenke tried to make light of the situation by suggesting Paul could come to Denver but that elicited no response.

While Anthony stood and applauded Kroenke when he was recognized, he apparently did nothing to discourage or dismiss the suggestions that he should leave the Nuggets.

"There were other people saying, 'We're going to get you guys together,' but it doesn't become a runaway train if Melo says something," said one source. "Maybe he didn't perpetuate it, but tell people to stop or say, 'Stan, I'm sorry.' He didn't do any of that."

Paul has since met with Hornets' management and appears less eager to leave New Orleans, but all the signals from Anthony are that he would like to be in a different uniform this season.

Wedding signals included.

Anthony's agent, Leon Rose, could not be reached for comment and the Nuggets declined to comment.

Pray for an NBA lockout!

 

[jerzy234]

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Here is the video from espn.com. Beat me to it. Sounds like a trade COULD happen before the season starts. There are going to be problems with trading him. He wants to go to New York, well the Nuggets wouldn't get back nearly as much value as they should get back for a player his caliber. I could see a team like New Jersey putting a package together, but like New York situation, there is little on that roster to be thrilled about. Letting these players get their way is what is killing the league and the sad part is Stern doesn't even seem to care.

 

[Youngin]

I'm all for players controlling their destiny and choosing what teams they want to play for. It holds the front office accountable. If they don't establish a championship caliber team, when free agency comes around the player will leave. Sounds pretty good to me

Question: In the event of a lockout can't players just go play overseas? The NBA is not the only league around. If the NBA slips up FIBA can take over and establish a hold on the market.

 

[ButterMPancakes]

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Here is the video from espn.com. Beat me to it. Sounds like a trade COULD happen before the season starts. There are going to be problems with trading him. He wants to go to New York, well the Nuggets wouldn't get back nearly as much value as they should get back for a player his caliber. I could see a team like New Jersey putting a package together, but like New York situation, there is little on that roster to be thrilled about. Letting these players get their way is what is killing the league and the sad part is Stern doesn't even seem to care.

What are you babbling about? Should players not be allowed to choose whether or not they want to sign an extension? Letting posts like these slip is killing this board and the sad part is the Mods don't seem to care :chuckles:

 

[Aussie]

I'm all for players controlling their destiny and choosing what teams they want to play for. It holds the front office accountable. If they don't establish a championship caliber team, when free agency comes around the player will leave. Sounds pretty good to me

Question: In the event of a lockout can't players just go play overseas? The NBA is not the only league around. If the NBA slips up FIBA can take over and establish a hold on the market.

So you're for 2 teams of Miami and New York having 6 of the possibly top 10 players?

 

[Youngin]

So you're for 2 teams of Miami and New York having 6 of the possibly top 10 players?

The Lakers winning every year is competition? I just want to see some battles like it was in the 90s. The Heat vs The Knicks, or The Magic vs The Celtics, or any other combination would be some great battles. The NBA would be more exciting. I'm from New Orleans and I am a Hornets fan but I wouldn't mind Chris Paul leaving to New York. They are wasting the man's talents in this inept organization.

 

[Aussie]

The Lakers winning every year is competition? I just want to see some battles like it was in the 90s. The Heat vs The Knicks, or The Magic vs The Celtics, or any other combination would be some great battles. The NBA would be more exciting. I'm from New Orleans and I am a Hornets fan but I wouldn't mind Chris Paul leaving to New York. They are wasting the man's talents in this inept organization.

 

[ButterMPancakes]

Yes, a Hornets fan that wants to see Chris Paul go to New York.


Now I've seen it all.

 

[Youngin]

Yes, a Hornets fan that wants to see Chris Paul go to New York.


Now I've seen it all.

I didn't say I wanted him to go, I said I understood. If I was him I would be ready to leave as well. He's not getting younger, I wouldn't blame him for wanting to win.

 

[ButterMPancakes]

The Lakers winning every year is competition? I just want to see some battles like it was in the 90s. The Heat vs The Knicks, or The Magic vs The Celtics, or any other combination would be some great battles. The NBA would be more exciting. I'm from New Orleans and I am a Hornets fan but I wouldn't mind Chris Paul leaving to New York. They are wasting the man's talents in this inept organization.

Yes, you did say you wanted it.

 

[Youngin]

Yes, you did say you wanted it.

That was in reference to Carmelo going to New York, not Chris Paul.

 

[blank964]

Yes let's sap all of the talent out of smaller teams so we only have 4 teams with a legit shot at winning the title (though you could make the argument that the league is already like that). I mean if elite players are just going to leave every team because they don't win a ship then there will be no stability in the league.

 

[Gunther]

Every big talent wants a ring and no one wants to earn it on their own except for Kobe. It's a sad, sad day when I am forced to respect Kobe Bryant, people. Thank you, new generation of NBA stars, you bunch of pansy-ass mamma's boys and underwear models. Thanks for ruining a sport I used to respect. Not so much now. It's gonna be a long season.

 

[staycoolbruh]

NBA will get soo damn boring! I would hate for this to happen! I really hope Heat fail miserably somehow! Nuggets are a contender, they have a chance to get better, but Melo wants to leave because he wants to play with Paul and Stat. *Sigh* These players suck!!!

 

[Chris]

The Lakers winning every year is competition? I just want to see some battles like it was in the 90s. The Heat vs The Knicks, or The Magic vs The Celtics, or any other combination would be some great battles. The NBA would be more exciting. I'm from New Orleans and I am a Hornets fan but I wouldn't mind Chris Paul leaving to New York. They are wasting the man's talents in this inept organization.

While you make a valid point, the fact that we are even talking about this signals that the league has gone to hell. I think I'll be on the sidelines until Stern or somebody with balls rights this sinking ship.