Nets Trying To Get Billups And RIP Along With Anthony

[joe.linnen]

Timofey Mozgov
Amar'e Stoudamire
Carmelo Anthony
Wilson Chandler
Raymond Felton

vs.

Brook Lopez
Kris Humphries
Carmelo Anthony
Rip Hamilton
Chauncey Billups

That isn't even close lol. NY is a lot more desirable.

Agreed.

I'm incline to agree, Anthony should just wait and head to NYC during the summer as a free agent. No need to go to a team that's old when he can just say in Denver. I say walk away from Denver head to New York and play with Gallo, Chandler, Feilds, Felton, Stat, and everyone else. He could go to a young team full of talent over a gutted old team that will never see the conference finals ever

[J Smitty]

Again, if all he cared about was NY...why would he be pushing for a trade at all? Just go sign with NY in the summer, which would keep the Knicks from having to give up anything at all. That would be the logical move, if he did in fact only care about NY.

[step]

Again, if all he cared about was NY...why would he be pushing for a trade at all?

Money, he won't get as much money if he signed as a free agent as opposed to being traded and signing an extension. Also who knows what the new CBA will bring in.

[J Smitty]

Again, if all he cared about was NY...why would he be pushing for a trade at all?

Money, he won't get as much money if he signed as a free agent as opposed to being traded and signing an extension. Also who knows what the new CBA will bring in.

Exactly. He wants his money. But what he really wants is his cake and to eat it too. That's not going to happen. So he can pick one or the other...NY or the money. All indications thus far point towards the money.

[omerome]

Again, if all he cared about was NY...why would he be pushing for a trade at all?

Money, he won't get as much money if he signed as a free agent as opposed to being traded and signing an extension. Also who knows what the new CBA will bring in.

Exactly. He wants his money. But what he really wants is his cake and to eat it too. That's not going to happen. So he can pick one or the other...NY or the money. All indications thus far point towards the money.

Well since the indications point towards money according to you, he should of resigned with Denver long time ago.

[J Smitty]

The only quotes directly out of Melo's mouth about this situation have been "the extension is my top priority" and "im going to sign the extension wherever I go." So no, it's not according to me...it's according to Melo. And if we're going to talk about things Melo himself has actually said, that's all there is. He hasn't said anything about the Knicks, though no one doubts that either.

He wants his money, he just wants it somewhere else. **** for him, as he chose not to sign the shorter extension like Lebron/Wade/Bosh did, he doesn't get to pick that place at the moment. Now to get a contract under the current CBA, he'll have to get it wherever the **** the Nuggets send him. If he doesn't, he can go where he wants as a free agent and lose money, which he also doesn't want to do. So either way, he really screwed himself.

[Thunderaptor]

The only quotes directly out of Melo's mouth about this situation have been "the extension is my top priority" and "im going to sign the extension wherever I go." So no, it's not according to me...it's according to Melo. And if we're going to talk about things Melo himself has actually said, that's all there is. He hasn't said anything about the Knicks, though no one doubts that either.

He wants his money, he just wants it somewhere else. **** for him, as he chose not to sign the shorter extension like Lebron/Wade/Bosh did, he doesn't get to pick that place at the moment. Now to get a contract under the current CBA, he'll have to get it wherever the **** the Nuggets send him. If he doesn't, he can go where he wants as a free agent and lose money, which he also doesn't want to do. So either way, he really screwed himself.

You're the only Nugget fan who's bitter about the situation, why is it always you who's bad mouthing Melo and not the other Nugget fans ?

[Prince12]

If i was him id be going to NY.

After watching NJ tonight their going to need alot more then Carmelo to help them.

[J Smitty]

Bitter about what? I'm being a realest about the situation. And the reality of the situation is that Melo did screw himself and he could have avoided this situation all together. He said back when he signed the original extension, when asked why he didn't sign the shorter one like everyone else, that "he wasn't stupid enough to leave money on the table." So, he took all the money he could get from the Nuggets. Now he doesn't want to honor that contract he signed, but he wants the Nuggets to trade him to a team that he wants to be on, so he can get even more money from them. Why, exactly, does Melo deserve kind words from me? For as much **** as Lebron and Bosh get, at least they were man enough to honor the contracts they signed.

My loyalty is not to Melo, it's to the Nuggets. And if he doesn't want to be here, why should I care about him? But since you're apparently a (self proclaimed) bandwagon fan, I suppose you don't understand that.

[omerome]

The only quotes directly out of Melo's mouth about this situation have been "the extension is my top priority" and "im going to sign the extension wherever I go." So no, it's not according to me...it's according to Melo. And if we're going to talk about things Melo himself has actually said, that's all there is. He hasn't said anything about the Knicks, though no one doubts that either.

He wants his money, he just wants it somewhere else. **** for him, as he chose not to sign the shorter extension like Lebron/Wade/Bosh did, he doesn't get to pick that place at the moment. Now to get a contract under the current CBA, he'll have to get it wherever the **** the Nuggets send him. If he doesn't, he can go where he wants as a free agent and lose money, which he also doesn't want to do. So either way, he really screwed himself.

Well to be honest, he wants to sign an extension because well, he deserves it. He just doesn't want to put himself in a position where he's bound to a team for years to come without a serious chance at winning a championship. He's one of the best players at his position and he wants to be rewarded for his hard work. And you're right, he has never mentioned the Knicks but the whole reason why there has been talk about it is simply the media driving it.

If he does end up as a free agent, the only one that's screwed is Denver - not him. Sure Melo might not get the money he originally gets but he will be offered a contract and now has the say so on where he wants to play. He will be completely unbound to any terms that Denver has and now that franchise has to find ways to rebuild. Even if he loses millions, that doesn't pale in comparison to the impact that Denver will feel if he chooses another team.

Look, I am not saying he will come to the Knicks in FA but frankly if Denver doesn't make a move soon, they will a bad position where they get little to nothing in return and loses their franchise player at that. If Carmelo chooses the Knicks or any team, they will improve while Denver is stuck with decisions to make.

[J Smitty]

The only quotes directly out of Melo's mouth about this situation have been "the extension is my top priority" and "im going to sign the extension wherever I go." So no, it's not according to me...it's according to Melo. And if we're going to talk about things Melo himself has actually said, that's all there is. He hasn't said anything about the Knicks, though no one doubts that either.

He wants his money, he just wants it somewhere else. **** for him, as he chose not to sign the shorter extension like Lebron/Wade/Bosh did, he doesn't get to pick that place at the moment. Now to get a contract under the current CBA, he'll have to get it wherever the **** the Nuggets send him. If he doesn't, he can go where he wants as a free agent and lose money, which he also doesn't want to do. So either way, he really screwed himself.

Well to be honest, he wants to sign an extension because well, he deserves it. He just doesn't want to put himself in a position where he's bound to a team for years to come without a serious chance at winning a championship. He's one of the best players at his position and he wants to be rewarded for his hard work. And you're right, he has never mentioned the Knicks but the whole reason why there has been talk about it is simply the media driving it.

If he does end up as a free agent, the only one that's screwed is Denver - not him. Sure Melo might not get the money he originally gets but he will be offered a contract and now has the say so on where he wants to play. He will be completely unbound to any terms that Denver has and now that franchise has to find ways to rebuild. Even if he loses millions, that doesn't pale in comparison to the impact that Denver will feel if he chooses another team.

Look, I am not saying he will come to the Knicks in FA but frankly if Denver doesn't make a move soon, they will a bad position where they get little to nothing in return and loses their franchise player at that. If Carmelo chooses the Knicks or any team, they will improve while Denver is stuck with decisions to make.

Do you know what an extension is? It's adding on to the current contract you have, because you want to stay with the team you're on, and don't want to enter free agency. He deserves max money because he is a great player...but if he doesn't want to stay with the team he is currently on, no he does not deserve an extension. If he wants to leave, he should honor the contract he signed, and go elsewhere in free agency.


As far as losing Melo in free agency? The only reason that would happen is because Melo refused to be traded anywhere the Nuggets tried to send him to. And if that's the case, then they're not really missing out on anything....because nothing was available. You can say they could trade him to NY, right? But what exactly would they be getting from NY...Danilo Gallinari and Eddy Curry? The Nuggets don't want them. They'd be better off taking the 4 mill per they'd have to spend on Gallo, and putting it towards a player they actually want to sign.

You say Denver will be stuck with the decisions they've made. What decisions? Carmelo is the one who has put the Nuggets in this situation by wanting a trade. And if he is going to refuse any trade the Nuggets want to do, how is that their fault? You can't say they've made bad decisions, when those decisions were made by Melo. They offered Melo the most they possibly could...him walking away is on him.

[eldandy]

It's a combination of a lot of things from a lot of different angles. Melo wants out of Denver for whatever reason and fair enough. Melo wants to 1) pick his destination 2) get a top dollar contract that he's earned and 3) be on a bigger market team that has a future to contend (Denver is a medium market and a borderline playoff team in need of re-tooling). As someone already stated, just signing with whichever team over the summer negates point 2 listed above.

It's not just a Melo thing, either. The biggest thing (that some seem to overlook for some reason) is that the Denver Nuggets are going to do what's best for the Denver Nuggets. Period. Denver will trade Melo to whichever team offers the best assets so they will not be left in the slight conundrum Toronto and Cleveland were left in this summer.

Now, Denver would get a solid package if Melo was just to be a rental to whichever team. However if Carmelo agrees to a extend and trade, then Denver will pull in a king's ransom and will actually get some nice pieces in return instead of getting A) an asset or two if he was a rental or B) potentially nothing when Melo walks this summer. That's why it is so important that Melo is traded to a place he wants to be (as opposed to just signing as an UFA) because it not only give Melo a better contract but it also tremendously benefits the Denver Nuggets. If New York had the quality pieces to trade to Denver, then the trade would have been worked out months ago cause it's a win-win for everyone involved. However, there is a reason why Melo hasn't been traded to the Knicks and that's because Denver has to do what's best for Denver. That's why within the past few months they have been in talks with New Jersey cause they have the pieces to trade to Denver and there is the possibility that Melo would accept to go there. However if Melo can't be sold on the Nets and doesn't signs that extension, then Denver can forget about getting Favors and a few of those 1st round picks cause Jersey is not gonna throw assets away for 20 games of Melo. It honestly is all gonna depend on how well the Nets sell their organization to Melo. If ultimately Melo doesn't want to go to the Nets, then I would expect him to be traded to New York for a less impressive package because Denver HAS to trade him somewhere.

I hope for Denver's sake he agrees to an extend and trade with the Nets.

[omerome]

Do you know what an extension is? It's adding on to the current contract you have, because you want to stay with the team you're on, and don't want to enter free agency. He deserves max money because he is a great player...but if he doesn't want to stay with the team he is currently on, no he does not deserve an extension. If he wants to leave, he should honor the contract he signed, and go elsewhere in free agency.


As far as losing Melo in free agency? The only reason that would happen is because Melo refused to be traded anywhere the Nuggets tried to send him to. And if that's the case, then they're not really missing out on anything....because nothing was available. You can say they could trade him to NY, right? But what exactly would they be getting from NY...Danilo Gallinari and Eddy Curry? The Nuggets don't want them. They'd be better off taking the 4 mill per they'd have to spend on Gallo, and putting it towards a player they actually want to sign.

You say Denver will be stuck with the decisions they've made. What decisions? Carmelo is the one who has put the Nuggets in this situation by wanting a trade. And if he is going to refuse any trade the Nuggets want to do, how is that their fault? You can't say they've made bad decisions, when those decisions were made by Melo. They offered Melo the most they possibly could...him walking away is on him.

Of course I know what an extension is. He wants an extension but he isn't going to simply resign with Denver if they aren't showing him they are going to put a title contending roster around him. Right now, he is playing out his contract like he should and leaving himself open with options. Just like Denver might be looking out for their franchise, he has to look out for himself too.

If Denver doesn't make a move now to surround him with better players and if they don't trade him before the season ends (with hopefully a extend-and-trade scenario), then he will become a FA (with the misfortune of losing the extension) and he can choose which team he will continue his career with.

As for Carmelo refusing trade scenarios Denver has in place, this is a big career decision for him. He wants to play where he's comfortable and with the chance to win a championship in the near future. If for example, the Kings or Clippers puts together the best package, he has to think, "Do I want to play the next 4-5 years of my career with this team?". I don't know exactly what his thought process is, but if it was me, that would be one question I would ask myself.

And if a team puts together a package to get Carmelo, a question to ask is, "Who will be left for me to play with?". If it's worse than Denver's roster, he might as well stay there which is why nothing has happened yet. Now until he verbally opens his mouth and says he wants to play for <Team Z>, I don't see what he's doing wrong.

[J Smitty]

It's a combination of a lot of things from a lot of different angles. Melo wants out of Denver for whatever reason and fair enough. Melo wants to 1) pick his destination 2) get a top dollar contract that he's earned and 3) be on a bigger market team that has a future to contend (Denver is a medium market and a borderline playoff team in need of re-tooling). As someone already stated, just signing with whichever team over the summer negates point 2 listed above.

It's not just a Melo thing, either. The biggest thing (that some seem to overlook for some reason) is that the Denver Nuggets are going to do what's best for the Denver Nuggets. Period. Denver will trade Melo to whichever team offers the best assets so they will not be left in the slight conundrum Toronto and Cleveland were left in this summer.

Now, Denver would get a solid package if Melo was just to be a rental to whichever team. However if Carmelo agrees to a extend and trade, then Denver will pull in a king's ransom and will actually get some nice pieces in return instead of getting A) an asset or two if he was a rental or B) potentially nothing when Melo walks this summer. That's why it is so important that Melo is traded to a place he wants to be (as opposed to just signing as an UFA) because it not only give Melo a better contract but it also tremendously benefits the Denver Nuggets. If New York had the quality pieces to trade to Denver, then the trade would have been worked out months ago cause it's a win-win for everyone involved. However, there is a reason why Melo hasn't been traded to the Knicks and that's because Denver has to do what's best for Denver. That's why within the past few months they have been in talks with New Jersey cause they have the pieces to trade to Denver and there is the possibility that Melo would accept to go there. However if Melo can't be sold on the Nets and doesn't signs that extension, then Denver can forget about getting Favors and a few of those 1st round picks cause Jersey is not gonna throw assets away for 20 games of Melo. It honestly is all gonna depend on how well the Nets sell their organization to Melo. If ultimately Melo doesn't want to go to the Nets, then I would expect him to be traded to New York for a less impressive package because Denver HAS to trade him somewhere.

I hope for Denver's sake he agrees to an extend and trade with the Nets.

This is a very good post.

I'll agree Melo is helping Denver by giving them a chance to trade him for something, rather than him just walking. But at the same time, only giving them a list of one team - a team with little to nothing to offer - isn't exactly much help at all. If he said he'd go to three or four teams, or hell even just another one besides the Knicks, then that would help the Nuggets, because they could actually have a choice of offers and maybe get a couple teams bidding against eachother.

But in a round about way, him asking for a trade now, as opposed to just being quiet and walking(like Lebron and Bosh) could end up hurting, if the Nuggets don't end up trading him(because the only team they could trade him to is the Knicks). In the casual fan's eyes, Melo will come off looking a lot better than Lebron and Bosh, while the fan perception of the team drops drastically, even though it would be Melo who was pigeonholing them.

In the end, the only thing that makes this situation any different than what Lebron and Bosh did last year, is the looming CBA and potential lockout. If it weren't for that, I can almost guarantee he takes the same exact route they did. But because he is afraid of the new CBA and losing so much money, that's why the situation has become what it has.

[J Smitty]

Do you know what an extension is? It's adding on to the current contract you have, because you want to stay with the team you're on, and don't want to enter free agency. He deserves max money because he is a great player...but if he doesn't want to stay with the team he is currently on, no he does not deserve an extension. If he wants to leave, he should honor the contract he signed, and go elsewhere in free agency.


As far as losing Melo in free agency? The only reason that would happen is because Melo refused to be traded anywhere the Nuggets tried to send him to. And if that's the case, then they're not really missing out on anything....because nothing was available. You can say they could trade him to NY, right? But what exactly would they be getting from NY...Danilo Gallinari and Eddy Curry? The Nuggets don't want them. They'd be better off taking the 4 mill per they'd have to spend on Gallo, and putting it towards a player they actually want to sign.

You say Denver will be stuck with the decisions they've made. What decisions? Carmelo is the one who has put the Nuggets in this situation by wanting a trade. And if he is going to refuse any trade the Nuggets want to do, how is that their fault? You can't say they've made bad decisions, when those decisions were made by Melo. They offered Melo the most they possibly could...him walking away is on him.

Of course I know what an extension is. He wants an extension but he isn't going to simply resign with Denver if they aren't showing him they are going to put a title contending roster around him. Right now, he is playing out his contract like he should and leaving himself open with options. Just like Denver might be looking out for their franchise, he has to look out for himself too.

If Denver doesn't make a move now to surround him with better players and if they don't trade him before the season ends (with hopefully a extend-and-trade scenario), then he will become a FA (with the misfortune of losing the extension) and he can choose which team he will continue his career with.

As for Carmelo refusing trade scenarios Denver has in place, this is a big career decision for him. He wants to play where he's comfortable and with the chance to win a championship in the near future. If for example, the Kings or Clippers puts together the best package, he has to think, "Do I want to play the next 4-5 years of my career with this team?". I don't know exactly what his thought process is, but if it was me, that would be one question I would ask myself.

And if a team puts together a package to get Carmelo, a question to ask is, "Who will be left for me to play with?". If it's worse than Denver's roster, he might as well stay there which is why nothing has happened yet. Now until he verbally opens his mouth and says he wants to play for <Team Z>, I don't see what he's doing wrong.

That's all good and well, and I know he has to look out for himself too. But please don't tell me this is about the roster he has and the chances of winning a title. I know being a Knick fan, you have your own opinions. But the Nuggets have made the playoffs for 7 straight years, one of only 3 teams to do that(Spurs and Mavericks). They also made it to the WCF two years ago, and likely could have done it again last year had it not been for injuries and the unfortunate illness of coach Karl. They're one of the only teams in this league who have given the Lakers trouble in recent years(4-1 against them the past two years). And had Melo not done what he has, the Nuggets would be in a fantastic situation right now, with everyone finally healthy and the easier part of our schedule coming up.

That is not what his decision to leave is about. If he wants to go be closer to home and play in a big city, cool...great for him, that's his choice. But saying it's about winning, especially when you want to go to a team that has been extremely dysfunctional and hasn't been good for a decade, is something of an insult to me.

[omerome]

That's all good and well, and I know he has to look out for himself too. But please don't tell me this is about the roster he has and the chances of winning a title. I know being a Knick fan, you have your own opinions. But the Nuggets have made the playoffs for 7 straight years, one of only 3 teams to do that(Spurs and Mavericks). They also made it to the WCF two years ago, and likely could have done it again last year had it not been for injuries and the unfortunate illness of coach Karl. They're one of the only teams in this league who have given the Lakers trouble in recent years(4-1 against them the past two years). And had Melo not done what he has, the Nuggets would be in a fantastic situation right now, with everyone finally healthy and the easier part of our schedule coming up.

That is not what his decision to leave is about. If he wants to go be closer to home and play in a big city, cool...great for him, that's his choice. But saying it's about winning, especially when you want to go to a team that has been extremely dysfunctional and hasn't been good for a decade, is something of an insult to me.

Why are you insinuating that I think he will be a Knick? I haven't said that he will. Frankly, if he does choose to sign with the Knicks, we would still need to do more to compete with the Heat, Celtics, and Magic to get out of the east. The Knicks are in the discussion because well, they are a team that he can sign with (if he chooses) but that doesn't mean he will. I am not pushing for him to be a Knick but I won't say that I won't be happy if he chooses my team as long as he has a solid roster around him.

And as for the Nuggets making the playoffs in the last seven years, that's a great accomplishment but we're talking about now. Prior to our decade of suck, the Knicks were a regular team in the playoffs but that's in the past too. The question now is will resigning Carmelo make the Nuggets anything more than a team that makes the playoffs without seriously contending for a title soon?

Whether he chooses to play closer to home or not, it's a decision that he wants to be happy with. Because he will have to play the next few years there.

[StrawberryShake]

That's all good and well, and I know he has to look out for himself too. But please don't tell me this is about the roster he has and the chances of winning a title. I know being a Knick fan, you have your own opinions. But the Nuggets have made the playoffs for 7 straight years, one of only 3 teams to do that(Spurs and Mavericks). They also made it to the WCF two years ago, and likely could have done it again last year had it not been for injuries and the unfortunate illness of coach Karl. They're one of the only teams in this league who have given the Lakers trouble in recent years(4-1 against them the past two years). And had Melo not done what he has, the Nuggets would be in a fantastic situation right now, with everyone finally healthy and the easier part of our schedule coming up.

That is not what his decision to leave is about. If he wants to go be closer to home and play in a big city, cool...great for him, that's his choice. But saying it's about winning, especially when you want to go to a team that has been extremely dysfunctional and hasn't been good for a decade, is something of an insult to me.

Why are you insinuating that I think he will be a Knick? I haven't said that he will. Frankly, if he does choose to sign with the Knicks, we would still need to do more to compete with the Heat, Celtics, and Magic to get out of the east. The Knicks are in the discussion because well, they are a team that he can sign with (if he chooses) but that doesn't mean he will. I am not pushing for him to be a Knick but I won't say that I won't be happy if he chooses my team as long as he has a solid roster around him.

And as for the Nuggets making the playoffs in the last seven years, that's a great accomplishment but we're talking about now. Prior to our decade of suck, the Knicks were a regular team in the playoffs but that's in the past too. The question now is will resigning Carmelo make the Nuggets anything more than a team that makes the playoffs without seriously contending for a title soon?

Whether he chooses to play closer to home or not, it's a decision that he wants to be happy with. Because he will have to play the next few years there.

This is the exact reason why lebron left the cavs yet he is being chastised by everyone for wanting to win, i really hope melo goes to the knicks. It would make for the next 2 heat/knick games to be must see TV.

[omerome]

This is the exact reason why lebron left the cavs yet he is being chastised by everyone for wanting to win, i really hope melo goes to the knicks. It would make for the next 2 heat/knick games to be must see TV.

I won't speak for anyone but myself but the reason why I felt that LeBron was chastised was the way he played the FA process. It wasn't the fact that he left, it was the way that he proceeded to do so.

Players have every right to play where they want because it's their careers. But they should go through the process correctly.

[StrawberryShake]

fair enough but even if he had left you have to admit that cleveland wouldn't have reacted any differently to his "decision".
The only right choice for him was to stay in cleveland according to the media and thats what irks me.

[Prince12]

Probably not Cleveland fans but the rest of the Basketball fraternity possibly wouldnt have seen him in the light that he presented himself in by handling it that way. Especially when he still to this day believes what he did was perfectly fine and cant understand why people would react that way.