Carmelo Anthony Thread (Denver Finalizes Deal With Knicks)

[twix2500]

Whether or not the general perception was one of uncertainty as to whether or not Wade would ascend to superstar status does not justify this specific trade from the Net's perspective. Brook is not only not an elite player, he's not even on the cusp of becoming an elite player. He's below average to awful in every aspect of the game other than scoring. In order to become the kind of center that you can anchor a team around, as opposed to one that you're forced to compensate for, Brook would need to make astounding, pretty much unheard of improvements on the defensive end of the court. And he'd also need to learn how to pass out of a doubleteam. Is this possible? Sure, he's still young, and he has a solid mobility and a huge frame. But it's also extremely unlikely.

Wow do many of you have this low of expectations of Lopez???

[dice]

sam smith was right on there. miami had an up-and-coming young team. they were taking a gamble on a short-term bump to get them into immediate contention

1) there was only one top-flight team in the east - the pistons. right now there are FOUR major hurdles in the east

2) their second year w/ shaq the heat won 52 games in a weak conference. wade almost single handedly (w/ help from refs?) took them past the pistons in the ECF and the mavs in the finals. shaq was solid but unspectacular. same quite possibly would have been accomplished w/o the shaq trade. and that was the end of the run right there. the next year the heat were back to mediocrity and 2 years later they were the worst team in the league...as odom and butler were in their primes

the nets of 2010-2011 and the heat of 2003-2004 are totally different animals. the nets would be taking a long-term gamble in order just to become a playoff team in the short-term. carmelo anthony is not dwyane wade. and brook lopez, needless to say, is not shaq

[vincecarter4pres]

the nets of 2010-2011 and the heat of 2003-2004 are totally different animals. the nets would be taking a long-term gamble in order just to become a playoff team in the short-term. carmelo anthony is not dwyane wade. and brook lopez, needless to say, is not shaq

Thank you.

Maybe I was wrong on a few minor points as I bet I can find a number of articles backing mine as well, but this was the main and most important point.

The 2 situations just don't compare.

[twix2500]

sam was right on there. miami had an up-and-coming young team. they were taking a gamble on a short-term bump to get them into immediate contention

1) there was only one top-flight team in the east - the pistons. right now there are FOUR major hurdles in the east

2) their second year w/ shaq the heat won 52 games in a weak conference. wade almost single handedly (w/ help from refs?) took them past the pistons in the ECF and the mavs in the finals. shaq was solid but unspectacular. and that was the end of the run right there. the next year they were back to mediocrity and 2 years later they were the worst team in the league

the nets of 2010-2011 and the heat of 2003-2004 are totally different animals. the nets would be taking a long-term gamble in order just to become a playoff team in the short-term. carmelo anthony is not dwyane wade. and brook lopez, needless to say, is not shaq

I beg to differ from you, Melo is maybe a notch below them but dam close. There is a lot of sad puppies here and i can understand why. But man what a difference a few months make. Not too long ago I was arguing with a nets fan telling me Lopez was an elite center, and i was telling him he good but not elite. Now im hearing he is awful. I really do hope Melo comes here and have success so some of these sour apples will cheer up lol. It may be your tired of hearing these Melo rumors are making many become sour. There is never a perfect scenerio, even the Heat signing the Big 3 came with criticism (too many alpha dogs, no quality role players, Wade and Bron cant shoot, Bosh is soft etc....).

[624]

[vincecarter4pres]

Golden.

[twix2500]

[deepblueday]

I beg to differ from you, Melo is maybe a notch below them but dam close. There is a lot of sad puppies here and i can understand why. But man what a difference a few months make. Not too long ago I was arguing with a nets fan telling me Lopez was an elite center, and i was telling him he good but not elite. Now im hearing he is awful. I really do hope Melo comes here and have success so some of these sour apples will cheer up lol. It may be your tired of hearing these Melo rumors are making many become sour. There is never a perfect scenerio, even the Heat signing the Big 3 came with criticism (too many alpha dogs, no quality role players, Wade and Bron cant shoot, Bosh is soft etc....).

Brook is not awful, he's just not good enough to build a contending team around. He has one very rare and valuable skill, but he's not even a complete player on the offensive end of the floor yet. Too many mistakes, too much weakness, too many holes in his game... Clearly he's a net positive out there, but he still hurts his team in too many areas. I do think he will improve in the next two years, especially with his passing, but his ceiling is all-star, not superstar. With two other stars around him, yes, the Nets would be in good shape, but just him and Melo will never even be close to good enough to get it done, no matter what caliber of role players you surround them with.

[jeff1624]

It's funny for a minute... then it becomes sad..

[dice]

rarely literally laugh out loud at something online, but you got me here

[NyCeEvO]

Nets: No Carmelo Anthony meeting

ESPN.com news services

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has no plans to meet with Carmelo Anthony during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

Nets blog

Nets Looking for more information on the Nets? ESPNNewYork.com has you covered. Blog

A spokeswoman for the Russian billionaire released an update Saturday saying that Prokhorov had not met with Anthony and has no plans to meet with the Denver Nuggets star.

"I told you that first," Anthony said after practice at the Los Angeles Convention Center. "I told you that first."

The announcement by Ellen Pinchuk casts doubt on whether the Nets will make a deal for Anthony with Thursday's NBA trading deadline fast approaching.

The Nets and Nuggets recently renewed trade talks for Anthony for the third time this season. However, Anthony, who can became a free agent after this season, insisted twice Friday that no meeting was planned with Prokhorov.

Pinchuk backed that up Saturday.

"Just to update you, Mikhail has not met with and has no plans to meet with Carmelo Anthony," she said. "He is looking forward to enjoying All Star Weekend. We will have nothing else to add on this."

Anthony wasn't sure why Prokhorov wouldn't seek a meeting, saying that maybe the owner was as tired as he was of the daily speculation. But Anthony said he would have agreed to sit down with him.

Photos: Carmelo Anthony's career

Stay in Denver? Go to N.Y. or L.A.? As MeloDrama plays out, enjoy photos of
a star's career: Carmelo Anthony Photo Gallery

"Yeah, I would have broke bread with him, drunk some water with him," Anthony said.

Anthony wouldn't answer when asked about a New York Daily News report that he met with Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan on Thursday.

The Nuggets have looked into trading Anthony since he declined to sign a three-year contract extension worth nearly $65 million this season. The Nets were close to a deal twice, and the New York Knicks are considered the other favorite to land Anthony if Denver decides to move him.

The Prokhorov update seems to make the Knicks the favorite in the Melo Sweepstakes. Anthony wants something to happen soon, but hasn't received any indication from Nuggets executive Josh Kroenke that it will.

"I believe that me and Josh have a good relationship. Since he became the owner, we've been talking a lot. The lines of communication have been open," Anthony said. "I do believe that if something was to break or happen, that he would call me or he would sit down with me and explain it."

Either team would have to give up a big portion of its roster to land Anthony.

"If anything was to happen with whatever team, of course, I would want a team to be able to compete with," Anthony said. "As far as all the players that's in the deal, that's supposed to be in the deal, yeah, that's a lot of players for one guy."

The Nuggets approached the Nets in the past week to see if they were still interested in acquiring the small forward, sources told ESPN.com.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Nets and Nuggets discussed a deal that would have sent point guard Devin Harris, rookie forward Derrick Favors, the No. 3 pick in the draft, others and at least three of the Nets' five first-round draft picks over the next two seasons to Denver for Anthony, point guard Chauncey Billups and others.

The Nets were close to a deal for Anthony in training camp and there was a 10-day span in January when the Nets and Nuggets appeared on the verge of pulling off a blockbuster 15- or 16-player, three-team deal with Detroit that would have brought Anthony to New Jersey.

When the deal lingered without resolution, Prokhorov ended the speculation in dramatic fashion, saying the lingering talks were hurting his team. He also cited the high price the Nuggets were seeking and his frustration with the public nature of the talks.

On Thursday, Prokhorov's spokeswoman insisted that Prokhorov had not changed his mind with the impending NBA trading deadline approaching.

Knicks All-Star Amare Stoudemire denied a report that he was against the reported deal for Anthony.

"I don't know where you heard that from. You didn't hear it from me," he said. "It's always a touchy topic because you don't want to offend anyone ... but Carmelo is obviously a friend. He's from New York, New York loves him."

I'm telling you, we weren't seriously involved in these negotiations a second time. We were just using it to make sure the Knicks give up more....

[Rich Rane]

So we entered a bidding war without even entering a bidding war to sweeten a NY deal for Denver?

[NyCeEvO]

So we entered a bidding war without even entering a bidding war to sweeten a NY deal for Denver?

I think our management's hate for NY is greater than their current dislike of the Denver FO. Therefore, because it was said that we were "back in the game" and were willing to give up so much, it has now forced NY to be willing to give up Gallo in addition to the package that they have already put out there. While it sweetens the pot for Denver, it also hurts NY because instead of paying Melo less via free agency and not giving up any players, NY is now forced to give up players and pay Melo's extension just to acquire him. It is a weird twist of the old proverb "The enemy (Knicks) of my enemy (Nuggets) is my friend".

[JoseRizal]

^^ The Art of War...

[enetric]

@eneric
First of all in getting Chancey Billups your are getting a better trading chip than Eddie Jones was. The Heat had a declining Shaq, Shaq was making 30 million a year, a still unknown Dwayne Wade. People were saying how Wade is not an elite player, that he was just a good undersize two guard playing point. And exactly what your saying now fans were saying then, young Kobe and Shaq is not Wade and old overpaid Shaq. Lopez still has a lot of potential and currently a hellava player now at a position that most teams can not match up at. Melo and Lopez window to win is much bigger than Shaq and Wade was. With Melo and Lopez you become an attractive place for free agents. Use the MLE, add quality veterans in free agency who can be potential trading chips.

With Lopez and Melo next year you have a great chance of being the 4th or 5th best team in the east. And maybe even third depending on what orlando do with their roster. Maybe your not a big Melo fan, because i get a sense that you are underestimating how good he is. Melo can easily get his game to be in the top 4 players in the league. If you dont make this deal, than its likely the Nets are going to be in the gutter for years to come gambling on draft picks.

I am not going to go 20 rounds of back and forth on this. Your reply is filled with nonsense. If you think Melo, Brook, an old Billups and a pile of junk is a 5th seed or that there is any comparison to Wade and Shaq then you are wasting my time.
Buillups and no picks or prospects doesnt net much in a deal. You have to add more than just Billups to entice someone.

And you overrate Melo. Melo has been in this leagtue as long as Wade and Lebron. Could be top 4? If he goes to NY he will be their #2. If Paul gets there he drops to #3. He is scorer. I know his game well...I know his game far better than you do. His game is filled with holes beyond scoring. He has led Denver teams far better then we would have around him exactly no where. What you are selling here is junk.

I want no part of him for this price. NONE. And I say that as a life long CUSE fan.

[claymobile22]

melo never was and never will come to the Nets. have fun with Brook Lopez and his 3 double doubles or whatever the hell amount he has.

PM Sent

- Rich Rane

[enetric]

First off, you're full of ****.

Wade was being raved about as a star coming into his own and although people were saying:

Kobe/Shaq>Wade/Shaq

Everyone was still saying Wade and Shaq was a deadly combo.


Second, just listen to what you're saying.

Yay! We can possibly be the 4th or 5th best team in the East! Yay!

The Heat were instantly considered the 2nd, if not best team in the East and a top 4 team in the league after they traded for Shaq and filled the roster out.

There is no comparison to be made here.

I not full of s##@, after wade rookie season no one thought he was going to be this good. Not even close, and we were still expecting him to develope into a point guard. Along with Rasual Butler the Heat signed Wesley Person and the talented but under achieving suspended Qyntel Woods in hopes he would show his potential and fill in as the starting small forward but that didnt happen. When the Heat couldnt find a solid small forward they decided to move Wade back to the 2 guard and Eddie Jones to the small forward position. We had no idea Damon Jones was going to be as good as he was for that year. And NOOOO ONE thought they were the best team in the east the year we got shaq.

Look at that Heat team in 2004/5, they filled that team will one year deals veteran journey men. Shaq 30 mill dollars man, Wade project point guard, Old overpaid veteran Eddie Jones, a surprise in undrafted free agent Udonis Haslem beating out Christian Leatner at power forward, some jouney man name Damon Jones at point. The Bench had old cut by the knicks Shannon Anderson, old Wesley Person, a clipper bust in Kenyon Dooling and Michael Doleac. Going into the season that summer the expecting starting lineup was PG: Dwayne Wade SG: Eddie Jones SF: Wesley Person PF: Christian Leatner C: Shaquille Oneal.

Everyone was saying how the Heat were stuck with that team and no tradable assets. Everyone was saying how Eddie Jones was untradable and were never going to beat the Pistons.

Shaq was at that time still the best player on the planet. Wade was already established. And he was clearly a stud. Melo all these years later isnt as good as Wade. And Lebron the best player on the planet already has a job.

There is nothing and I repeat NO COPARISON between what you did then and wht you are saying we should do now. NONE!!!!!!!!!! ANd you shouldnt have to look any further than Melo's Denver resume compared to Shaq's LA resume.

We are being realistic. We see the cap. We see our needs post trade and we are trying to be realistic about where we are at with our development.

Melo for a team gutted of its tradeable assets....not worth it. Rather slow build.

[JoseRizal]

melo never was and never will come to the Nets. have fun with Brook Lopez and his 3 double doubles or whatever the hell amount he has.

And have fun playing with yourself troll...

[enetric]

@eneric

The same comments were being made, some were saying Riley ruined the Heat team by getting rid of its young players.

Here are some quotes from espn writer sam smith

Sure, Dwyane Wade looks like he'll become a heck of a player. But I haven't heard comparisons to Bryant quite yet. Even O'Neal would admit he's not quite what he was. Sure, there were extenuating circumstances this past season. There was Karl Malone and Gary Payton, who needed more shots than the retinue of role players who'd teamed with O'Neal and Bryant through three consecutive NBA championships. So O'Neal's scoring average hit a career low. He was very good in the playoffs, but not nearly as great as he'd been. He is no longer the kind of player to load a team on his back and carry it wherever he wants it to go.


The Heat will be much closer now. But for how long? O'Neal is 32, and he'll have to do much more now with Miami's team stripped down to accommodate the trade. It may take a few years to build it back up and add the pieces to complement O'Neal. But then will he be able to do enough? Will Wade even become Magic as O'Neal becomes Kareem?

THose were reasonable doubts from a basically awful writer. Now take those reasonable doubts and apply them to our MUCH WORSE team. You arent proving anything here with this pie eyed golly gee...you never know what can be! Nect you are going to tell me Granger and Hibbert are about to become Wade and Shaq too.

Stop it. Its not realistic. Melo and Brook aint Wade and Shaq. If people were doubting them...damn skippyits worth doubting this move. Its TERRIBLE.

[enetric]

sam smith was right on there. miami had an up-and-coming young team. they were taking a gamble on a short-term bump to get them into immediate contention

1) there was only one top-flight team in the east - the pistons. right now there are FOUR major hurdles in the east

2) their second year w/ shaq the heat won 52 games in a weak conference. wade almost single handedly (w/ help from refs?) took them past the pistons in the ECF and the mavs in the finals. shaq was solid but unspectacular. same quite possibly would have been accomplished w/o the shaq trade. and that was the end of the run right there. the next year the heat were back to mediocrity and 2 years later they were the worst team in the league...as odom and butler were in their primes

the nets of 2010-2011 and the heat of 2003-2004 are totally different animals. the nets would be taking a long-term gamble in order just to become a playoff team in the short-term. carmelo anthony is not dwyane wade. and brook lopez, needless to say, is not shaq

If Shaq didnt have the injury the year before he would have taken that team to the finals. And he was robbed out of the MVP. Nash was a free agent along with Q on a career year joing a good team. Shaq came by trade and was absolutely dominant that first year. It was his last elite season before some decline in my opinion...and then eventually big time decline. But Shaq was still special. Wde are talking about the best player on the planet to be drafted to this league after MJ...Lebron the only guy in my mind TBD. No one else need apply.