Carmelo Anthony Should Take a Lesson From Steve Nash

[Mike-Dub]

Nash Doesn't See Reason To Request Trade

Steve Nash signed an extension with the Suns last summer and has every intention of honoring it.

The Suns dealt Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark to the Magic for Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat on Saturday.

Some speculate that Nash could be the next to leave Phoenix.

"I'm optimistic that it can help us short- and long-term," Nash said. "It sounds like it would've been tough to keep J-Rich in the summer anyway so it was a chance to take a move in a new direction.

"I think all three of those guys are good offensive players so I don't think that it's going to hurt us. It gives us more size that we needed. It should be a good opportunity for us."

Suns president Lon Babby has been clear Nash is part of the future.

"I signed the contract extension to stay," Nash said. "I did that for a reason. I wanted to play with these guys, some of them. At least some of them were here when I signed. I still think we have a chance to be a good team. You just got to roll with it. What are my options? Quit?"

He could demand a trade.

"I could be in a city that maybe doesn't have the guys we have," Nash said. "I want to be positive and make this a great opportunity and a great season. I know a lot of people are telling me to demand a trade. If I demand one, does that mean I get to pick my team? No. It's not that simple. Maybe somebody could explain to me the reasoning. You can't just go in and tell management where you want to go. I signed to play here and I want to make this team a really good one."

Steve Nash is all class.  He makes a commitment and sticks to it.  The NBA needs more players like him.

I too like everyone else though hope the Suns trade him to a legit contender (just not LA).

[pearljammer10]

This is BS.

If Melo wants to go to NYC. Then why should anyone get in his way and stop him. Steve Nash made a commitment by signing the extension, and he is honoring it.

Melo hasnt officially asked for a trade or made anything public from his own mouth. Its not like he signed an extension and then said I want out. He is keeping his options open, and if he wants to go to NYC, you cant fault him for doing what he wants to do to be happy.

[Mike-Dub]

This is BS.

If Melo wants to go to NYC. Then why should anyone get in his way and stop him. Steve Nash made a commitment by signing the extension, and he is honoring it.

Melo hasnt officially asked for a trade or made anything public from his own mouth. Its not like he signed an extension and then said I want out. He is keeping his options open, and if he wants to go to NYC, you cant fault him for doing what he wants to do to be happy.

Carmelo Anthony is doing exactly everything you said he isn't.

He signed an extension with the Nuggets. He said "It's time for a change"  when talking about being in Denver. 

I have no problem with him signing with the Knicks when his contract is up, but play out your contract for the team that signed you and give them your all. 

[PosImpos]

I agree with the sentiment of this post, but it's hard to argue that Nash's loyalty to his team hasn't hurt his chances to get a ring some day.

[Mike-Dub]

I agree with the sentiment of this post, but it's hard to argue that Nash's loyalty to his team hasn't hurt his chances to get a ring some day.

It really hasn't up until this year.

[PosImpos]

I agree with the sentiment of this post, but it's hard to argue that Nash's loyalty to his team hasn't hurt his chances to get a ring some day.

It really hasn't up until this year.

Hrm...that may be true.  I'm not so sure.  He remained loyal for a significant portion of his career to a Suns organization that did enough to give him a winning squad, but not really a championship caliber one (except perhaps in the years Nash won MVP).

It's too bad the Mavs didn't hold onto Steve.  I have a feeling the Mavs would have won a title by now if they'd had Steve and Dirk on the same team during those MVP years.

[Mike-Dub]

I agree with the sentiment of this post, but it's hard to argue that Nash's loyalty to his team hasn't hurt his chances to get a ring some day.

It really hasn't up until this year.

Hrm...that may be true.  I'm not so sure.  He remained loyal for a significant portion of his career to a Suns organization that did enough to give him a winning squad, but not really a championship caliber one (except perhaps in the years Nash won MVP).

It's too bad the Mavs didn't hold onto Steve.  I have a feeling the Mavs would have won a title by now if they'd had Steve and Dirk on the same team during those MVP years.

There would have been no Heat tilte in 06 if the Mavs still had Steve.

[Brendan]

Nash left the Mavs and signed with the Suns. Melo is going to do the same. The Nuggest don't want to lose him for "nothing" so they are shopping him. He said "I won't sign an extension anywhere except the knicks."

I think the OP's characterization of Nash versus Melo is unfair.

[Mike-Dub]

Nash left the Mavs and signed with the Suns. Melo is going to do the same. The Nuggest don't want to lose him for "nothing" so they are shopping him. He said "I won't sign an extension anywhere except the knicks."

I think the OP's characterization of Nash versus Melo is unfair.

Nash played out his contract and didn't ask for a trade in the last year of his if I remember correctly.

[PosImpos]

Nash left the Mavs and signed with the Suns. Melo is going to do the same. The Nuggest don't want to lose him for "nothing" so they are shopping him. He said "I won't sign an extension anywhere except the knicks."

I think the OP's characterization of Nash versus Melo is unfair.

Nash played out his contract and didn't ask for a trade in the last year of his if I remember correctly.

Yeah, Nash went to the Suns because, for whatever reason, the Mavs weren't willing to pay him a fair contract.  Considering how many players the Mavs have overpaid over the years, that has to be the worst mistake they've made in the past decade, right?  Nash + Dirk and a cast of guys who can shoot, rebound, and play defense would've been at least one title.

But Brendan is right in the sense that Nash would have had a great chance to win a title if he had stayed with the Mavs.  I don't think the same can be said of Melo, at least not in the near future.  And right now it's clear Steve isn't going to win anything anytime soon with the Suns.

Still, I really respect Steve and how classy he is handling his business with his team even when he isn't particularly happy with the moves they're making.  A lot of players could do well by following his example.

[pearljammer10]

This is BS.

If Melo wants to go to NYC. Then why should anyone get in his way and stop him. Steve Nash made a commitment by signing the extension, and he is honoring it.

Melo hasnt officially asked for a trade or made anything public from his own mouth. Its not like he signed an extension and then said I want out. He is keeping his options open, and if he wants to go to NYC, you cant fault him for doing what he wants to do to be happy.

Carmelo Anthony is doing exactly everything you said he isn't.

He signed an extension with the Nuggets. He said "It's time for a change"  when talking about being in Denver. 

I have no problem with him signing with the Knicks when his contract is up, but play out your contract for the team that signed you and give them your all. 

Melo hasnt demanded a trade. He is playing out his contract with Denver. He hasnt signed an extension with the team and the team is shopping him so he doesnt just walk... I dont understand what you are getting at here.

[dpaps]

This is BS.

If Melo wants to go to NYC. Then why should anyone get in his way and stop him. Steve Nash made a commitment by signing the extension, and he is honoring it.

Melo hasnt officially asked for a trade or made anything public from his own mouth. Its not like he signed an extension and then said I want out. He is keeping his options open, and if he wants to go to NYC, you cant fault him for doing what he wants to do to be happy.

I agree with you here. I think this is BS too. Melo is getting unfair heat for this situation. He's been 100% honest and up front with Denver. He has a contract that goes through this season, and hes playing it out. Watch a Nuggets game, Melo gives 100% all the time. He is a FREE AGENT at the end of the year and he's honest with Denver in saying that he's going to explore his options. It's his right to and he should. Better he's honest so they can trade him if they want, rather than tell them he'll stay and then leave.

Of course Nash is stand up guy and playing out his contract is what he should do. Now if Nash looked around and saw the direction of the team and asked for a trade to a contender, I doubt people on this board would bash him even close to as much as other players who have recently switched teams... I wonder why.

[Roy H.]

I think it's hard to tell somebody that he has to spend his entire career in a city simply because that's the team that drafted him.

Nash is comfortable in his living and playing situation.  Carmelo isn't, for whatever reason.  Since the money will be the same, or more, if he stays in Denver, it seems like he has priorities outside of money.  I can't hate on a guy for leaving to pursue happiness elsewhere.

The only time I get upset by FAs moving on is when you have a situation like Lebron's, where the organization catered to his every wish and he still couldn't give them the respect of being straight up about his intentions.  That was handled in a no-class manner, and Lebron deserves the ridicule he got.  

However, Carmelo isn't doing that.  Rather, he's told his franchise he's leaving, and is letting them shop him for compensation.  He isn't threatening to block trades, he's just not committing to an extension right now.

Is the Carmelo situation so different than the KG (or Pierce) situations, where KG talked about opting out and leaving, and Pierce talked about "pulling a Kobe" and demanding a trade?

All that said, I do like Steve Nash.  I'm disappointed that the organization hasn't built a winner around him.

[dpaps]

Is the Carmelo situation so different than the KG (or Pierce) situations, where KG talked about opting out and leaving, and Pierce talked about "pulling a Kobe" and demanding a trade?

Very good point.

[PosImpos]

Is the Carmelo situation so different than the KG (or Pierce) situations, where KG talked about opting out and leaving, and Pierce talked about "pulling a Kobe" and demanding a trade?

Very good point.

KG and Pierce were both on relatively bad teams without a whole lot of talent on the roster aside from themselves.

Melo's team was in the conference finals a couple years ago and could be a couple moves away from being a contender, if he were on board and willing to fight hard.  Just last season the Nuggets looked like a team that could really give the Lakers a hard time, but unfortunately George Karl was out at the end of the season and couldn't lead them, which is very important for the Nuggets given the various personalities and tendencies on the squad.

I feel as though Melo hasn't given his team a fair chance...he wants to leave so he can be in the bright lights along side another big star somewhere.  He's handling the situation better than LeBron, but he is opening himself to criticism similar to what LeBron has faced - he seems to want the easy way out.