Carmelo Anthony trade rumors just aren’t going to go away. The lack of a contract extension fuels these Carmelo Anthony trade rumors, and it probably means that the Denver Nuggets are in for a huge distraction for the entire 2010-11 NBA season. Anthony will make $17.1 million this season with the Nuggets, and then he has a player option for $18.5 million in the 2011-12 season. If Anthony decides to opt out of his contract at the end of this season, he would become the most highly sought-after free agent on the market. That would definitely lead to a huge contract, and would allow him to sign with a team other than the Denver Nuggets. That’s exactly what the Nuggets do not want to have happen.
It has to be tough to be a fan of the Nuggets right now, especially after seeing what took place between LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The heartbreak that those fans are experiencing is about as bad as it gets, and Denver will do everything possible to make sure they don’t walk down that same road. The major problem with that line of thinking is that, if the Nuggets cannot get Anthony to agree to a contract extension soon, it appears as though Anthony could bolt right out of Denver. It is because of this possible scenario that the trade rumors just won’t die, and why would they, because every other team in the NBA would love to trade for Carmelo Anthony and inject him right into the starting lineup.
Alex Kennedy of Hoops World has reported that Anthony is leaning toward free agency next season, and this could give a mixed message to the front office in Denver. One way to look at this is that Anthony is just posturing to make sure the Nuggets front office continues to bring talent to the team, and that they make a serious effort to keep the franchise competitive. The less flashy way of looking at this, though, is that it would allow Anthony to go to a new team and team up with one of the other major players in the NBA. If Denver knows Anthony is going to bolt, they need to work their hardest to pull off a trade soon, maybe to the New York Knicks for some of their young assets. It’s a decision that would upset fans, but would mean they don’t lose Anthony for nothing.
The reason we can’t put too much stock in all of the current Carmelo Anthony rumors is that he is still out on his honeymoon after recently being married. He isn’t talking to the press, and he certainly isn’t in the middle of any negotiations. When he gets back from that vacation, it will allow him to actually make a statement or to talk things over with the Nuggets brass. Until then, all of the Anthony trade rumors need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Reference:
Denver_Nuggets_Salaries
