Re: Carmelo Anthony Traded To New York
OK, let me say first off I am a Melo fan. I grew up just outside Syracuse and will always have fond memories of him leading SU to the National Championship in 2003. When he was drafted by Denver, that became my new NBA team, after having followed the Lakers during the Magic-era. Ironically, I moved to Denver towards the end of Melo's rookie year, so over the last 7 years, I've had the opportunity to see him in person numerous times. I love his game, although there are times he drives you nuts with his lack of defensive intensity.
I have no beef with him wanting to go to New York. He's an East Coast guy and he is right in questioning the future of the Nuggets franchise. After overpaying for guys like Kenyon Martin, who are now on the tail end of their careers, Denver wasn't going to be a title contender and it appeared a rebuilding project, centered around Ty Lawson-Melo-Nene was Denver's plan. If I were Melo, that wouldn't get me too excited.
So, I don't fault him at all for leaving. I hope he does well in NY.
Altimus, you bring up a good point about how if Denver let Melo play out the year and then sign with NY, they would get nothing. I've heard people say, 'well, they would get $15-20 of cap space to use to sign other players.' Really? How did that work out for Cleveland and Toronto last year when LeBron and Bosh went to Miami? Those teams found themselves without those big contracts and who did they sign in free agency? Unless you have pieces in place, you are not going to attract A-list free agents. What you wind up with are second-tier guys who are just happy to get extra PT thanks to said superstar moving on to another city.
Denver really had to try and get something for Melo and I think this trade was the best one they could've made. Chandler and Gallinari are real nice pickups and the draft picks (hopefully) work out down the line. Felton is a downgrade from Billups in the sense that Chauncey was a real mentor to Lawson and I don't see Felton playing that role, but he will be serviceable and this will just speed up Lawson's move into the starting lineup.
Lawson-Afflalo-Gallinari-Chandler-Nene isn't a bad Starting 5 and with Birdman, JR Smith, Kenyon Martin and Al Harrington coming off the bench, still not bad.
I'm just glad we can all move on from this.
OK, let me say first off I am a Melo fan. I grew up just outside Syracuse and will always have fond memories of him leading SU to the National Championship in 2003. When he was drafted by Denver, that became my new NBA team, after having followed the Lakers during the Magic-era. Ironically, I moved to Denver towards the end of Melo's rookie year, so over the last 7 years, I've had the opportunity to see him in person numerous times. I love his game, although there are times he drives you nuts with his lack of defensive intensity.
I have no beef with him wanting to go to New York. He's an East Coast guy and he is right in questioning the future of the Nuggets franchise. After overpaying for guys like Kenyon Martin, who are now on the tail end of their careers, Denver wasn't going to be a title contender and it appeared a rebuilding project, centered around Ty Lawson-Melo-Nene was Denver's plan. If I were Melo, that wouldn't get me too excited.
So, I don't fault him at all for leaving. I hope he does well in NY.
Altimus, you bring up a good point about how if Denver let Melo play out the year and then sign with NY, they would get nothing. I've heard people say, 'well, they would get $15-20 of cap space to use to sign other players.' Really? How did that work out for Cleveland and Toronto last year when LeBron and Bosh went to Miami? Those teams found themselves without those big contracts and who did they sign in free agency? Unless you have pieces in place, you are not going to attract A-list free agents. What you wind up with are second-tier guys who are just happy to get extra PT thanks to said superstar moving on to another city.
Denver really had to try and get something for Melo and I think this trade was the best one they could've made. Chandler and Gallinari are real nice pickups and the draft picks (hopefully) work out down the line. Felton is a downgrade from Billups in the sense that Chauncey was a real mentor to Lawson and I don't see Felton playing that role, but he will be serviceable and this will just speed up Lawson's move into the starting lineup.
Lawson-Afflalo-Gallinari-Chandler-Nene isn't a bad Starting 5 and with Birdman, JR Smith, Kenyon Martin and Al Harrington coming off the bench, still not bad.
I'm just glad we can all move on from this.
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