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If you get 50 cents on the dollar for Melo, it'll be worth it. He has shown, very clearly, that he cannot succeed as the centerpiece of an NBA franchise. Now if he can go be option #2 somewhere, that would be great for whoever can get that done.
Nuggets have to change
By Mark Kiszla
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 05/09/2008
The math does not compute for the Nuggets.
Somebody has to go.
Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby are the team's big three. But they proved to be a big zero in the NBA playoffs.
Convinced they must make a significant change to compete for a championship, it's no secret the Nuggets will actively pursue trade options. What's more significant, according to a source familiar with the team, is nobody on the Denver roster has been deemed absolutely untouchable.
The Nuggets want to make a deal.
The challenge will be to get the Nuggets front-office team of basketball operations vice president Mark Warkentien, player personnel veep Rex Chapman and executive adviser Bret Bearup, who have sometimes worked at cross purposes since the blockbuster acquisition of Iverson, on the same page in any trade proposal.
It will cost franchise owner Stan Kroenke in excess of $44 million plus luxury taxes to keep Anthony, Iverson and Camby on the team payroll next season. That's simply not a smart investment in three star players who recently won 50 regular-season games, then went down without much of a fight against the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs.
Somebody has to go.
Despite his impressive defensive statistics, Camby's value as trade bait has been hotly debated by Denver management for the past 12 months. While the Nuggets tried to pry one of the young stars from the Atlanta Hawks in return for Camby last spring, a 34-year-old center now would likely have more appeal to a contender looking for the final piece to its championship puzzle.
As the Nuggets bet Iverson will not choose to opt out of a contract scheduled to pay him a salary in excess of $20 million next season, the team remains uncertain of what to do with the 32-year-old guard down the road, especially when Denver considers A.I. could be attractive to a potential trade partner looking for a marquee name to sell tickets in the short term and provide roster flexibility in the long term.
While the Nuggets have given no indication they will actively shop Anthony, the constant drama in the life of their 23-year-old forward has become the source of enough frustration within team headquarters that Denver would be willing to listen if somebody made a trade offer too good to refuse for Melo. The problem? In a league where stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James dominate, it's difficult to come out ahead when trading a singular immense talent for any combination of players and draft picks.
Denver will not stand pat. With a draft choice late in the first round, it's believed the Nuggets are eyeing North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson. The team also is known to have recently scouted young European center Marc Gasol, currently property of the Memphis Grizzlies and a prospect who might be ready to emerge from the shadow of his big brother with the Lakers.
If the Nuggets want to make a blockbuster deal capable of altering the chemistry of a squad whose success seems to be less than the sum of its parts, however, they must move Camby, Iverson or Anthony. Who would get shown the door?
Maybe the more pertinent question is: Can Warkentien, Chapman and Bearup agree on what direction to take the Nuggets?
To put it nicely, this is a management team of three strong-willed, opinionated basketball men who too often appear to be competing for the ear of Kroenke.
For example: At the trade deadline in February, the Nuggets irked NBA teams from coast to coast when the front-office staff simultaneously worked deals for Sacramento defensive wizard Ron Artest and Memphis shooter Mike Miller, only to come off as an organization whose left hand was unaware of what the right hand was doing.
As the Nuggets struggled to make the playoffs only to be rudely bounced by the Lakers in the first round, it was not unusual to see Warkentien or Chapman take separate turns consulting and consoling Kroenke in the arena seats or a hallway outside the locker room.
If the Denver front office cannot give the boss better advice or results, why should Kroenke continue to listen?
Before the Nuggets can build a championship iden y, this is a basketball organization that needs to find its voice.
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9199420
If you get 50 cents on the dollar for Melo, it'll be worth it. He has shown, very clearly, that he cannot succeed as the centerpiece of an NBA franchise. Now if he can go be option #2 somewhere, that would be great for whoever can get that done.
I thought he was terrible in these playoffs. And hes terrible apparently when out of them too.
Lakers will somehow send Luke Walton to the Nuggets in return for Carmelo.
Varejao and Eric Snow's expiring contract for Melo. Make it happen, Danny!
like that'll happen
Look how out of shape he looks. It's like he doesn't even try during the offseason to stay in shape.
Battier, Head, and Bobby Jackson for Carmello and i can garantee u at least one win in the playoffs against the Lakers
mcgrady for him
or shaq for him?
so you wanna trade the guy in your sig, a pretty good role player, and a vet for carmelo? take out jackson or head and add cash and thats a good deal
Shaq. Def not McGrady. He still is waay to valuable. Until Carmelo shows he is willing to be a team player. Denver played alot better during the series when he was sitting on the bench.
He is like Iverson all offense but no defense.
nash for him
i will even add two first round picks if the nuggets were willing to do it. seriously, i think Carmelo is just a kid in a bad hood surrounded by negative influences. if he play along side hard workers like Yao and Battier i am pretty sure he will be on the same level as Lebron
For the money don't want!
The Nuggets will not trade him. They simply wont get good value. They should be looking to trade Iverson, but then again what will they get?
The team needs a true PG (som1 like Miller) and ideally som1 who can play some D. Start JR Smith at the 2 if AI is gone
Another option is to trade Camby to get that PG, but that leave them thin at C with Nene only playing 10 games a year
Diaw + Barbosa for Carmelo.
that might be one of the best offers Denver get if the Suns are willing, Add ATL pick and you got a deal
Would your owner be willing to to pay Melos salary thou?
Take out head, he's good and has a bright future. Then again the trade would probably be accepted if he's included, cause who turns down a good head
Melo's a very talented baby. He needs WAY too much coddling for someone that you would want to be the centerpiece of your franchise.
Bowen for Melo
Damon Stoudamire + pound of barbacoa
Or Mark "Mr. ' Kiszea's lover--Princess Pimp
I think David Stern wants the Knicks to be good again. Therefore, with D'Antoni possible going to the Knicks, Carmelo is going to come along, too.
You don't trade Battier though. Maybe Bobby Jackson, Head, possible Francis, cash and a draft pick(s) for Carmello.
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