Given the dramatic nature of these negotiations and the consequences of deals falling through, Anthony’s Melo-drama has quickly become the All Star Weekend Main Event.
Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, didn’t mention Anthony by name (he’s not allowed to because of tampering rules) but he was clearly speaking about him when he suggested that he wouldn’t have a problem renting the superstar.
The exit of Bearup will continue a complete restructuring of the Nuggets’ front office that began last season when Denver declined to offer new contracts to executive Rex Champan and General Manager Mark Warkentien.
Six Nuggets (Anthony, Afflalo, Billups, Nene, Harrington & Lawson) scored double-digit points in this 110-88 rote dismantling of the Jazz.
Denver will host the division nemisis Utah Jazz to kick off what could be Melo’s last year, month or week with the club… depending on which trade rumors you believe.
Unless the Nuggets reduce their asking price or the Knicks find a sucker GM to cough up a top pick, this rumored trade will evaporate as quickly as other Melo trade rumors have.
Young Josh Kroenke taking over, coupled with Warkentein’s departure, left potential free agents unwilling to take a chance on a club in transition. Without Carmelo’s signature on a fresh contract, Denver looked to be in decline.
Ujiri is back in Denver to kick-start the Josh Kroenke Era… and potentially the Post-Carmelo Era as well. If that is the case, at least Masai will be building a team designed to compete in the increasingly internationalized NBA.
Carmelo Anthony has been spoken for at length in recent months. To quote numerous media sources, Melo has been “on the brink†of being sent East on the trade winds since early August. But none among those purportedly in-the-know have anything better than unnamed sources to back up their claims.
While it is no foregone conclusion, the sign-and-trade seems like the only way for the Nuggets to approach break-even on this deal. If Carmelo plays the entire 2010-2011 season in Denver without a new contract, I would be utterly shocked. Nobody in this town wants to see Carmelo Anthony on prime time television announcing that he’s leaving while the Nuggets get approximately squat in return.
