I hate the modern superstar. So, his master plan is to force the Nuggets to sign him to a huge extension, and then demand a trade?
If he wants to leave in free agency, fine, no problem. However, this demanding a trade nonsense is stupid. And yes, I feel that way even though two of our superstars have requested trades in the past.
Did they demand a big contract right before the trade demand?
Pierce kind of did. As I recall, he'd just signed a four-year extension, and then less than a year, he started the "I might demand a trade" talk. KG, on the other hand, threatened the Twolves that he would opt out, which is definitely his right.
In my mind, you can't have it both ways. You either show your commitment to the team by signing an extension, or you leave. Instead, players want to eat their cake and have it too by demanding an extension *and* a trade.
Pierce signed it at the time with the belief the team was going to be better. (it wasn't)
Melo already wants to go (and has apparently decided to go) but wants the Nuggets to give him a big contract before.
Regardless, I see them as one in the same; either you intend to honor your contract or you don't. "Demands" are a ridiculous thing to me, and just once, I'd love to see a team stand up to a player and tell them to pound salt.
(It won't really work in Carmelo's case, though, since he's got more leverage; he can just leave for New York next summer. However, for other players with longer term deals, I'd like to see the team tell them that they won't trade them under any circumstances. The Hornets appear to be doing this, and more power to them.)
The Hornets aren't really doing that. They are changing to become a better team already to appease Paul with the Ariza trade and are looking for other moves. All Paul wants is a competitive team and they are trying to become one again. Anyways that's a pretty terrible example since that New Orleans team has been crippled the last few years by the incompetence of their execs.. the Posey deal, Chandler deal, Okafor, Peja... all terrible contracts. If a team (coaches, execs, owners etc) can hold players accountable I think they players can hold the team accountable for incompetence. They simply were not putting a good team on the floor.
And you won't see that kind of hostility towards a player because that would just be bad news. Your asking for him to quit or completely disrupt the locker room.
Players can certainly be in the wrong at times, but the teams can be as well and the thing is execs can be awful for years and years and years and it doesn't matter to them, players have a limited window in which they can compete at a high level in athletics. They are just trying to maximize their potential in that window. So I understand that aspect of it.
Anyways, Melo is a free agent so he can do absolutely whatever he wants and he owes nothing to anyone. He should take his best option. I really liked that Denver team but they peaked two seasons ago when they lost to LA in the Western Finals. Too bad because they were so close, just a few smarter plays and they had it.
Topic: According to ESPN.com, Carmelo Anthony is very likely to leave the Nuggets. (Read 8184 times)