Melo Will Only Sign Extension if Traded to Knicks

[PosImpos]

Anybody else sick of this from athletes.

Devil's advocate:  If Carmelo has his mind made up that he's signing with the Knicks in the off-season, isn't it better if he's honest with the Nuggets about that, rather than going the Lebron route?

I'm okay with that.  This is definitely better than the LeBron route.  At least he's not leading the Nuggets on.  And this rumor actually doesn't involve Melo demanding a trade or anything like that.  It does bother me, however, when players act as if they ought to be running the show, when they're really just a part of it.

What really bothers me here, though, is the fact that Carmelo is turning his back on his team so readily.  The Nuggets were a serious contender just a couple years back, and are still quite a good team despite some injury concerns.  The Nuggets organization has done an admirable job trying to build a good team around Melo.  Yet he's all too happy to jump ship to a bigger market where he can play with another big star and be showered with even more attention.  His eagerness to do so reveals a total lack of appreciation for the support he's received from fans, coaches, and management in Denver throughout his time there. 

The Nuggets could still be a very good team with Melo as their center piece.  Yet they essentially have to give up on contending because Melo has decided he wants to play up-tempo in New York with Amare - even though the Knicks have been a far less successful and worse-run franchise in the past decade than the Nuggets.

[indeedproceed]

Here is a question: Is it wrong to just decide "I'd like to play somewhere else. I don't really like it here anymore.", even when the city, the fans, and the team have been as accommodating as they possible could be? Is it okay for things to just "not work out"?

[PosImpos]

Here is a question: Is it wrong to just decide "I'd like to play somewhere else. I don't really like it here anymore.", even when the city, the fans, and the team have been as accommodating as they possible could be? Is it okay for things to just "not work out"?

When things have been going well on and off the court and you're making millions of dollars a year with no sign of that changing?

No, I don't think you can ever really justify that.  If Melo had been there for a couple of years it'd be one thing.  But he's been on the Nuggets his whole career and it wasn't until The Decision that he started to be vocal about changing teams.  Given that, it seems rather obvious that this is probably mostly about getting a bigger piece of the spotlight and an easier path to victory.  Hard for me to sympathize with that.

[indeedproceed]

No, I don't think you can ever really justify that.  If Melo had been there for a couple of years it'd be one thing.  But he's been on the Nuggets his whole career and it wasn't until The Decision that he started to be vocal about changing teams.  Given that, it seems rather obvious that this is probably mostly about getting a bigger piece of the spotlight and an easier path to victory.  Hard for me to sympathize with that.

I disagree about the decision stuff. It was always kind of assumed that melo would bounce if Denver didn't do something pretty drastic to the roster. The best they've done is switch out Billups for iverson,which is no doubt an improvement, but they need more.

Also, don't knock the notion that the offense as it sits now, with Melo as the centerpiece, just isn't capable of winning it all. Melo might be doing them a favor if they can get some young talented assets back.

[jambr380]

I agree with many of you here. He actually seems to be quite reasonable and up front about this whole thing. He isn't demanding a trade and he isn't saying that he wouldn't allow a trade anywhere. He is only saying that the only team he will sign an extension with is the Knicks.

If, after the season he wants to go to the Knicks. This seems to make a lot of sense and allows the Nuggets to get something in return. It's always sad seeing a popular player leave a team where is quite appreciated; however, at least he is giving the Nuggets the opportunity to attain some assets.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Anybody else sick of this from athletes.

Yea, our stars already did it so other guys following suit is now cool to player hate on  

Although to be fair, never heard ray made any demands like paul (get me help or im gone) or KG (wouldnt sign extension to get deal done for months till ray signed) did, so Ray is kinda the exception in our big 3.

I can not understand how people can equate OLD guys who tried FOREVER to do it alone and couldn't with YOUNG guys who are a few games away from being able to win it all. Boshina is the only guy in that trio who should have went out for greener pastures! D-Jane is also a guy I can't hate on too much b/c Mia continuously put crap out on the floor with him... although, they were tanking to get better, so he was not in a situation as bad as Boshina! LeBronda, well he had EVERYTHING he needed or maybe a year away from getting it all. That guy just doesn't want it the way others do/did! Clev basically let him teabag them his entire career... he just didn't have the balls to get it done alone!

[Fafnir]

I don't think the Nuggets have much to offer Anthony going forward, he's looking at a painful rebuilding situation over the next three years. Their salary situation is very bad one right now.

Better he lets them know he's gone than just leave them high and dry.

[crownsy]

Anybody else sick of this from athletes.

Yea, our stars already did it so other guys following suit is now cool to player hate on  

Although to be fair, never heard ray made any demands like paul (get me help or im gone) or KG (wouldnt sign extension to get deal done for months till ray signed) did, so Ray is kinda the exception in our big 3.

I can not understand how people can equate OLD guys who tried FOREVER to do it alone and couldn't with YOUNG guys who are a few games away from being able to win it all. Boshina is the only guy in that trio who should have went out for greener pastures! D-Jane is also a guy I can't hate on too much b/c Mia continuously put crap out on the floor with him... although, they were tanking to get better, so he was not in a situation as bad as Boshina! LeBronda, well he had EVERYTHING he needed or maybe a year away from getting it all. That guy just doesn't want it the way others do/did! Clev basically let him teabag them his entire career... he just didn't have the balls to get it done alone!

Sorry, to me thats the old green glasses coming through. What's the age limit in your hypothetical? are guys over 27 old enough to do this and not get your backlash? 28? 30?

do they need to not win for 5 seasons? 7? 9?

I have no problem with what these guys are doing, just like I had no problem with what we did.

In fact I have even less problem with these guys, they are free agents. Melo, as roy was saying, simply let the Nuggets know in advance so they could get something for him.

[footey]

Carmelo has a sore knee. He better hurry up and sign that contract, or he may have big regrets.

[Fafnir]

Carmelo has a sore knee. He better hurry up and sign that contract, or he may have big regrets.

Like Gilbert even if he hurts his knee severely some team will sign him for huge money...

[Lucky17]

Gotta feel for Melo. He's had a hard time in Denver.

Well, except for the All-Star caliber guards (Iverson, then Billups) to help him score/distribute the ball.

Oh, and the future Hall of Fame coach (Karl) running the show.

And the cast of role players (Afflalo, Martin, Lawson, Andersen) widely recognized as solid glue guys to help round out a rotation.

And the ownership group that has consistently paid luxury taxes to improve the club when possible.

Can someone do me a favor? Someone please post Melo's lines from all playoff elimination games.

[indeedproceed]

Gotta feel for Melo. He's had a hard time in Denver.

Well, except for the All-Star caliber guards (Iverson, then Billups) to help him score/distribute the ball.

Oh, and the future Hall of Fame coach (Karl) running the show.

And the cast of role players (Afflalo, Martin, Lawson, Andersen) widely recognized as solid glue guys to help round out a rotation.

And the ownership group that has consistently paid luxury taxes to improve the club when possible.

Can someone do me a favor? Someone please post Melo's lines from all playoff elimination games.

haha...I see what you did there. Nicely played.

[pearljammer10]

I love how it took this long for this story to break... Im pretty sure this has been obvious since sometime last season.

[snively]

How is New York an improvement on Denver in terms of management/future?  No interior D, no picks for the near future and likely not much left in the cupboard after bringing Melo aboard.

If I were Melo, I'd want to go to Orlando or Dallas.  Both teams with very solid veteran cores, excellent defenses, super-spendy owners, and giant holes where a go-to scorer should be.  He could make both teams legit championship contenders. 

[guava_wrench]

Gotta feel for Melo. He's had a hard time in Denver.

Well, except for the All-Star caliber guards (Iverson, then Billups) to help him score/distribute the ball.

Oh, and the future Hall of Fame coach (Karl) running the show.

And the cast of role players (Afflalo, Martin, Lawson, Andersen) widely recognized as solid glue guys to help round out a rotation.

And the ownership group that has consistently paid luxury taxes to improve the club when possible.

Can someone do me a favor? Someone please post Melo's lines from all playoff elimination games.

Don't forget Camby in th glue guy list.

I think Melo has tons of talent, but I'm not convinced that he is ready to be coached so that he can be part of a winning system.

If that is the case, the best move is to go where the endorsements are: NYC!