Leverage...

becasue of the value that you can get in exchange. For Example, Colangelo waited and waited, but refused to make a deal for Bosh or even make a deal to let bosh know that the team was headed in the right way, and in the end he got screwed. Kerr had a chance to trade amar’e for a potential laden player in Hickson, he decided to stick with the team and that got them to the wcf, but now, the suns have to rely on one hedo turkoglu to play the four.

I just hope Melo stays… it would be very sad for me

Not expirings, not bench filler – we’re talking on Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, Gerald Wallace, etc. level.

That is going to be incredibly difficult to do but the only way Denver ensures it stays relevant.

If Melo departs, we’re a bottom feeder in the West again, unless we land a legit star. That’s all there is to it.

Anything less than Melo for any of the above mentioned stars, or some combination, and playoff basketball is dead in Denver for next decade.

Seriously, I fully think that melo stays in Denver for at least the next 4-5 years…. I think the only reason that he hasn’t taken the extension yet is b/c hen knows it’s gnu be there all year long, so he now holds the leverage…. I think your just giving too much credit to the “sources” and ny media who have started all this hoopla…..

I do want to say that nothing you have said tells me you don’t hate Melo. You like what he has done for Denver, that’s obvious. But when you post an article that likens the generally reviled Yoko to LaLa that is rather hateful, don’t you think?

but this trade melo stuff can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. in these days of twitter any discussion of a potential trade by execs explodes throughout the internet immediately. then we can end up in another jay culter situation where melo feels betrayed that they considered trading him and then actually demands a trade. if that happens we immediately lose all our leverage as teams know they have to get rid of him.

I’m with Andrew in that I am sure Melo has made the decision to leave…he just wants to feel confident that new collective bargaining agreement won’t totally screw him. If that is the case, let’s get value for him now. As the season progresses, the Nuggs leverage decreases. Prior to Nov 1st. the nuggs could work with Melo’s team to get him a great deal in NY, NJ, or LA, and the Nuggs could get real value for him. Don’t rule out the Wizards either, who would love to bring Melo home to Baltimore, and who have some solid talent to give Denver in exchange. It would be sad to see Melo go, but if he has made the decision, and I’m pretty sure he has, let’s get some value in return before we get Mutombo’d all over again…

I will say that teams won’t sell off their future for a one year rental so many of these teams like LAC will NOT make a major move(top end players). Because they get Melo for one year, still won’t be that great, and lose him anyway after the year. Only a team which has the money and feels confident they can re-sign him will make a major trade. But outside of NY there aren’t many and NY has a bunch of shit to offer. Oh and if they trade him to LAL they are dead to me…ugh that would be arm slitting worthy.

But still awkward:

“All Melo owes the Nuggets organization and its fans is a straight answer about his future – sooner than later – so that we can plan accordingly for a post-Melo world should he depart.”

Really? Says who? Is there actually a belief out there that Melo owes the fans the knowledge that – by sharing – could cost him millions and millions of dollars? Why would he? It makes no sense at all and so it ends up being ridiculous to the point of being the self-fulfilling prohecy that someone else here mentioned. Sure, it would benefit the organization (and us demanding fans!) to know this far out what his intentions are but that knowledge could cost Melo millions. Not one of us who participate on this site would do what Andrew is asking Melo to do. Not one. Unless, of course, you (any of you?) would have foolhardedly signed the extension with virtually no front office, no sense of what might happen in the labor discussions and no major off-season moves by the Nuggets to guarantee a long-term run at the West. This is NOT Melo’s doing! Our FO fell apart mid-season last year! GK falling ill and our inevitable embarrassment in the playoffs wasn’t a fun thing to watch and I’m sure it’s not a fond memory for Melo. What LBJ did muddied the waters but should have ZERO impact on Melo’s decision. We knew this period of flux was coming and the organization limped up to it instead of sprinting. Again, not Melo’s fault. What Andrew is asking is silly, impossible and not worth pressing. What it really comes down to is that the NBA is a business like any business in that some organizations are better at it than others. Ours has taken some missteps that may or may not have cost us our superstar. I dispise the phrase except that it is so accurate here: “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” If Stan wants to compete in this particular industry for the next decade, he ought to make a few moves that makes for a helluva fun 2010-2011 season for Melo, our Nuggets and the fans. If we start the season strong and blow some teams out with some new found talent, I gotta think Melo starts thinking harder about that extension. If we have a hope, it rests 100% in how our season starts. Melo won’t make a decision before then NOR SHOULD HE!

By the by, sorry that you are “tiring of hearing about it” Andrew but you don’t get the luxury of being tired of your kick-ass job or your not-so-cheap season tickets. You run this show so step up and report facts or represent the fan base. Either one. This peculiar, opinion based anti-Melo (and his wife???) angle is a bummer and it’s counterproductive to the team AND ITS FAN’S needs! You want proof of the hatred you are trying so hard to deflect and distort? Where have you made the clear and pointed argument for Melo to stay and end his career in Denver? It is an easy argument to make and one that would benefit everyone who frequents this site. Whose side are you on Andrew?

and we didn’t make it to the championship last year. the best I can hope for is a team that plays hard and plays together that I can get behind regardless of the W column. any thought of a 50 win season this year is ludicrous.

melo – or no melo

…just ran into Arron Afflalo at LAX as we’re on the same flight back to Denver. I introduced myself as a season ticket holder and told him how much we appreciated his effort last season. He was genuinely nice, thanked me and said they’re going to be better this season.

We will never be a championship team after that though unless we get lucky in the draft ad get another great player.
I say even if he leaves, go down with a team that had the potential to win a championship instead of a team that won’t win one. Let’s not kid ourselves, Kaman and Gordon for Melo will not get us over the top.

and it’s not just about the posters on this site. It’s about ALL Nuggets fans and our rapid decent into Cleveland fans territory. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy.

Trading Melo out of some sort of anxiety is a horrible decision. Why do it? To spare petty emotions? It’s ridiculous to assume anything….Melo won’t just walk away….he will do a sign and trade no doubt. Trading now is a sign the team weak and willing to give in to the idiot rumor mongers from NYC.

I think there’s something very misguided about giving in to fear. It makes no sense business wise…and it sure as hell makes no sense from a team aspect. People chewing their fingernails because Melo MIGHT leave. Give me a break.

Let me as EVERYONE on this site a question…..all you mind readers who’ve apparently decided that Melo has one foot out the door. What will you guys do when halfway through the season the Nuggets are again second in the West? Will you beg for Melo to be traded at the deadline because you can’t stand the anxiety anymore?

Here’s my solution. RELAX! Drink a beer. Chill. It’s freakin August and we’re already packing Melo’s bags….sad.

Half of these trades aren’t legal under NBA rules, and it seems Andrew is already resigned to trading Melo for much lesser talent out of fear we’ll get nothing (except a clean slate and loads of flexibility) should he leave town eventually. The Nuggets organization owes it to fans to put out the most competitive team possible, whether or not they are favored to win a championship. Panic mode like we have to trade him for something is for lesser teams ready to tell fans they’re not going to be chasing the dream next year no matter how unlikely it is. We have winning pieces now – the best thing for both sides is to take this team forward and evaluate at the deadline. If we’re going to have an expensive team with a bloated payroll I’d rather have it with Melo than Andrew Bynum. If neither one of them can win a championship then we can start fresh the right way without weighing ourselves down. Fan up and get ready for us to win next year. If this is the end, then send this team out with a bang and go for broke. Is it time to panic? No. Chill, let it be – get ready for some kickass Nuggets basketball and enjoy the ride

I agree with JPage, this whole Melo situation has been blown out of proportion. If he leaves, we become an intermediate to crappy team even with a trade.
As a fan I prefer to wait it out and see what happens in the season. Anything can happen, Artest and Bryant can get suspended and Bynum blows his knee and the Nuggets become serious contenders.
Another scenario is a crappy team with a star we need wants financial flexibility down the road and we can trade KMart and instantly become a true contender. Patience is a virtue in this case for sure people. Relax and let’s worry about which GM we are getting first

great historical perspective and reality based asessment. there is nothing wrong with being objective and critical. this is going to be a major turning point in the history of this franchise. change is going to happen no matter what. it would be best for the nuggets to take destiny into their own hands now.

And I’m not so delusional to think that we’ll get equal value for Melo, nor do I think we’ll be better without him. But that doesn’t mean trading Melo now isn’t the right thing to do for the Nuggets franchise.

Wrong.

There is no argument against what is truly best for the Denver Nuggets.

Which is: Open the season with the roster they have. They will be competitive with that roster, they will win the majority of their games. If as the season progresses they do not appear to be contenders then start to aggressively pursue a trade…of JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Al Harrington or Nene. Make a move at the deadline for once and get a legitimate big man. The Nuggets have trade pieces other than Melo. There aim should be to figure out the best deal they can get with using one of those pieces to make this a roster which can compete for a championship which is actually the only thing Melo has said he wants to stay in Denver, the only thing. If all goes to hell and he leaves, he’ll leave with a sign and trade.

 Draft picks are always a valuable commodity, especially for a team which would be rebuilding at that point. They would be much better for a rebuilding team than taking a player who is coming off knee surgery and has never played a game (Griffin…by the way how’d that work out for Oden again?) or a big man who had a major foot injury just two years ago (Kaman…Yao esque injury if you will) or a shooting guard who saw a decline in every single one of his shooting percentages from a year ago, which was his rookie year (Gordon…great addition for our crowded backcourt) or a guard who is a one hit wonder (Harris same beef as Gordon) or a big man who is injured almost every year (Bynum…K-mart 2.0, in a bad way). The only guy who is a true blue chip pickup in that bunch is Lopez.

I would rather go down in flames trying to win a championship with Melo than to prematurely throw in the towel and trade him for a couple unproven or oft injured or overrated players who will leave us lottery bound while at the same time eat up anywhere from 8 to 15 million dollars of cap space in a year where we could potentially have somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million in cap space…and there in lies the rub. There is no point to trading Melo for “two solid players” when we can sign two or three solid to very good players outright.

I’ll close with this thought: If we sign and trade Melo in a similar deal to Lebron’s, don’t resign K-mart, don’t resign JR but hang on to the other guys they have options on (Chauncey, Ty and AAA) and Nene takes his player option then the Nuggets will be around $20 million under the cap in an offseason that is widely expected to have decreased salaries. Meaning they could very easily sign Marc Gasol, Carl Landry and Mickael Pietrus.
So the real question is what is best for the nuggets?
A. Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and a 1st rounder
B. Marc Gasol, Carl Landry, Mickael Pietrus, 2 first rounders, 2 second rounders and a $15 million trade exception.

And that is why Andrew it is you who is wrong on this one

100% wrong

Patently absurd

…Is that Kronke gave Wark/Rex the task of signing Melo to the extension and/or trading him. Melo didn’t sign the extension and this front office had no notion of trading him, so… (Whistle sound) they’re gone.

This new regime, whomever it may be, is tasked with trading Carmelo Anthony. And this silence we’ve (not) heard from Carmelo is actually the request of ownership, feeling, if everyone knows Carmelo wants to be traded, it’s a feeding frenzy and leverage is against us (everyone knowing that we have to trade him).

So that’s my only disagreement with Andrew: I think the F.O. is trying to keep it quiet now (And Carmelo is playing along) to get a better deal done, as opposed to making the need to deal the star public.

if melo leaves, melo leaves. it sucks but id rather take on draft picks and a huge TPE than a player(s) that are nowhere near melo’s level.

this is our last year if melo doesnt sign that extension, our cap room is setup like that. jr and kenyon come off the books, melo walks and now we have the option of exercising billups’ contract.

Melo is buying time and being ambiguous… I’m sure Carmelo knows how limited the Nuggets’ options are to make the team better. I don’t blame him for wanting the team to be better but I’m sure he realizes that the Nuggets do not have many options… KMart’s expiring contract is worth more to some lottery team at the trade deadline than before training camp. If we make such a drastic change mid season then we’ll be in for a first round exit (See 2009-2010 Mavs). Here’s a trade I’d like to to see happen… This would most definetely balance out the Nuggets nicely

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2fk2478

Teams have to rebuild every 7 years or so, and it could be a lot of fun with cap space, a billion dollar owner and some draft picks. I believe the team peaked two years ago with the WCf’s, and with an aging roster it makes sense that there will be some rebuilding around here. I just don’t think Melo wants to be a part of it. Look what OKC has done in a relatively short time period.. Things will be blown up next summer whether Melo stays or not.

I do as well. I just don’t understand this unwillingness to let the season play out. Give ourselves one last great run with this team before Melo goes (if he chooses to go).

Look….as someone who lived through the bad years of the 90’s and early 00’s I totally HATE rebuilding. It sucks for ticket buying fans….but it’s a necessary part of what teams go through.

Melo is free to do what he wants WHEN he wants.

I think the Nugs should be preemptive and trade Melo ASAP. I just hope management doesn’t settle for anything and gets the best deal possible.

We have a majority that would like to see this year play out regardless of weather Melo stays or not

and on the other had we have Andrew rounding up the villagers (probably including Sandy Clough) with pitch forks and torches to demand Melo be traded so people don’t have anxiety.

Btw Andrew….saying you like Melo….then equating him with Lebron for a whole column kind of undermines your point

Well…………….Andrew, maybe you are right and the writing is on the wall for Melo to leave. If so, the new GM should have a “come to Jesu” meeting with Melo with the discussion being:

1). Can we keep you? If so, what do we need to do?
2). If Melo is non-commital to question 1, then tell him that his lack of response necessitates the Nuggets trading him to the best offer

Can’t say I’m much excited about “rebuilding” but if that’s the reality, so be it. As we have seen, you need two superstars (lakers, celtics, spurs, etc.) to win an NBA title and we would have none – Chauncey is solid but I don’t think he’s a superstar anymore.

It’s just a matter of fact that the Denver market does no good for anyone’s entertainment career aspirations. And while we’re no Beatles (proportionately) it’s still ‘breaking up the band’ so to speak.

Also, Melo selling his megaplex of a house is not something to let go unnoticed. Why would you do that? Seriously? I doubt there are any better digs in this town, sans maybe Shannahan’s house.

However, Melo and LaLa need to come to grips with one very important thing. The entertainment biz is something that’s likely passed LaLa by at this point. For him to move in “hope” that she can resurrect a career in an industry that now grants a mere 15 seconds of fame, one that used to be only 15 minutes, is a foolish career move. LaLa got the full 15 minutes a few years back, and should be grateful and realistic about this.

If I’m Melo, I am doing what is best for my family monetarily, based on what I myself (Melo) can provide, because my beautiful, wonderful new bride isn’t going to be a breadwinner for this family, nor would she need to be with the mega millions Melo can produce for them. Facts is facts. The limelight has most likely moved on from her – and I say that out of love – LaLa did her thing, and was good at it, but pretty faces come and go so quickly. Even if she got a new gig, her time could run out faster than Melo could finish his first season in one of these new markets they’d be fleeing to. Then what?

Why not shoot to become a local celeb? Let Melo become Elway and do her thing locally… they could be the kings of this town if parlayed properly… I’d actually love for her to get a radio show here or somethin… that’d be pretty damn cool right? Get whack ass Kathy off the KS 107.5 morning show and let LaLa boost their ratings 1000X. Crazy? I’d tune in.

All options should be explored by the two of them, including the local option.

Also, Melo can’t say that this ownership hasn’t done everything it could to build a winner here. He can’t blame K-Marts knees or back on the FO but he can and should applaud them for bringing him legitimate front court help when they acquired Mr. Martin. He should see that we brought in AI, and then Chauncey, and have made some rather smart small dollar plays (intitially signing Bridman, bringing in the incredibly talented if enigmatic JR Smith, bringing in guys like Dahnte Jones and AAA to help the defensive end, smartly acquiring Lawsome… etc). This team isn’t one of the bums of the league and they at least try to get Melo a legit squad around him… and in my opinion have done so, and will continue to do so. The GM role may be up in the air at this point, but rather Melo is here or not, I have to grant faith that this team will consistently try to get/remain competitive for a title. Can the same be said by James Dolan in NY (what a joke of an operation!)? Can you consider Jay-Z and the Russian dude legitimate ownership in Jersey? Have the Wiz done anything except toil in futility ultimately? Do we seriously even mention the Clippers and Sterling? Get outta here!

The Miami Heat may have turned the NBA into an arms race, but the strategic move isn’t necessarily to follow suit if you’re Melo, and jump to a team that has one of your homies on it. Think strategically Melo, not tactically.

that Melo will make a decision based on basketball reasons. Not for his wife, not cause he’s from NY, not cause of Jay-Z or Lebron or anybody. He’s getting max money wherever he goes so he will go where he has the best chance to win. And I honestly and truly believe that is Denver. I think Melo will realize that too eventually. I’m not freaking out yet. If we play well this season I think he signs. If we implode and flame out this season, he’ll leave. In my eyes it’s that simple.

http://www.nba.com/nuggets/features/nuggets_anthony_20100814.html

I accept the fact that Melo may well probably leave and yet I don’t really fear it. I am a Melo fan but I still accept fair, objective criticism of his game that you can back up with facts. Jeremy at Roundball Mining Company made the best argument on the Melo stuff that actually had me slightly leaning the other way. He actually questioned whether taking a max extension was a slam dunk move for the Nuggets future, as Melo may be peaking out as a player and without the remaining upside of a Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, maybe even (ugh) a Chris Paul. If Melo isn’t the type of player you can build a championship team around as the cornerstone then there’s no shame in having tried for a full 7 years. There’s been a lot of reasons for the Nuggets success and this wagon isn’t so solely hitched to Melo as it’s made out to be. Is it really the worst thing in the world to have paid for 7 years on Melo in his prime and walk away with nothing more than that?

As much as I love ‘Melo, he is gone.. I think it’s more of his management and wife that want him to leave (as mentioned before) but I also believe it’s partly due to the hip-hop culture. LA, Miami, NY – they are the top three cities of hip hop. I’m surprised that Atlanta is not in the mix as well. Trust me, if LeBron wouldn’t have gone to Miami already, ’ Melo would be there in a minute. I’m a long time Nugget fan but let’s face it, basketball is becoming like MLB- it’s a race between the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Mets for the hot stars which depletes the quality of the game.

Thank you melo for your service but lets all be honest as a die hard nugget fan we were’t going to beat the lakers even with melo. We need to completely concentrate on the defensive side of the ball, we have the scorers now we have to become a more physical defensive minded club. I say trade melo right now and get some aggressive players, not the unpassionate and lazy defenders as melo is. This could be great for us as nuggets fans and frankly I can’t wait to see where the front office is going to go from here! Thanks melo for the exciting years but honestly were better off without you!

“Heroes get remembered, but legends never die”

Any chance we can get the ghost of Ruth to visit Melo in his dreams?

Thank god too. I was getting really tired of reading coment after coment about how Andrew hates Melo and has no reason to write the things he does. Well, here we are, the dust is about to settle, and guess who’s right? The realist.

If Melo is going to leave, I am with Andrew, we have to trade him now. It’s the smartest option for the FRANCHISE at this point in time, and frankly I see no other options that would bring us any sort of success. Of all the factors he already mentioned, I think the main one you have to consider is all the teams that missed out on Lebron, Wade and Bosh are going to throw the kitchen sink at us for Melo. For example I honestly think we could get Brook Lopez, Terrence Williams and two first round pick for Melo which would be a great deal. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we could get an even better deal. Superstars in the NBA are what franchises are built around and GMs know that. Melo’s value right now is at an all time high, and we need to capitolize if he’s set on leaving, bottom line.

Then trade Melo for him…otherwise I would rather try to win with a superstar than suffer to make the playoffs with a good role player.

I am a die hard nets fan i would love him to come to the nets but from your perspective i believe you should trade him.. but if you were to trade him trade him for players to help you rebuild a team players like a tyreke evans or another young player. From the nets perspective we cant offer much unfortunatly…