Carmelo Anthony Should Take a Lesson From Steve Nash

[Roy H.]

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. 

What's the difference between playing on a terrible team without a chance of winning and playing on a mediocre team without a chance of winning?  The Nuggets don't have a lot of flexibility to improve, and giving out long-term contracts to Al Harrington isn't going to help their situation any. 

[stylo617617]

after reading the qoutes i have so much more respect for nash epecially that he wasnt given anything in this league he worked himself to be mvp ,you'd think he wanna go to a legit contender but he'll honor his contract like a true man ,i think more players shud be like him , lebron shud take notes

[CelticG1]

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. 

Just to add to that wasn't KG and Pierce in their 30's? Basically they gave their team their all and (in Kg's case) wanted to get traded for possibly his last contract extension. Melo is what 25 26? I'm not saying what he is doing is wrong but I don't think that is comparable.

[dpaps]

Has Carmelo demanded a trade? Has Carmelo quit on his team? Does Carmelo give less than 100% in games?

The criticism is unfounded and uncalled for. The guy is a FREE AGENT, it's his RIGHT to choose whatever team he wants to at the end of the season. Now people are arguing you can only leave the team that drafted you when youre in your mid 30s? Just makes zero sense.

[CelticG1]

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. 

What's the difference between playing on a terrible team without a chance of winning and playing on a mediocre team without a chance of winning?  The Nuggets don't have a lot of flexibility to improve, and giving out long-term contracts to Al Harrington isn't going to help their situation any. 

The Nuggets are better than the Knicks. The Knicks suck. The Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the West over the past few years and have been contenders. I still think they could be a top team maybe if their superstar was focused a bit more on the team he is actually playing for.

What Carmelo is doing isn't against the law but it is pretty lame. What Lebron did was ridiculous but just because he did somwthing so idiotic doesn't mean that what Melo is doing is fine.

These guys aren't required to play on a certain team but it's going to be such a joke when Howard demands a trade in a couple years, then Durant demands a trade, then Rose, then Rondo.

[CelticG1]

Has Carmelo demanded a trade? Has Carmelo quit on his team? Does Carmelo give less than 100% in games?

The criticism is unfounded and uncalled for. The guy is a FREE AGENT, it's his RIGHT to choose whatever team he wants to at the end of the season. Now people are arguing you can only leave the team that drafted you when youre in your mid 30s? Just makes zero sense.

Whats your definition of "demanding" a trade? He hasn't put a gun to anyone's head but I'd say what he has done is as close as you get to demanding a trade.

[pearljammer10]

Has Carmelo demanded a trade? Has Carmelo quit on his team? Does Carmelo give less than 100% in games?

The criticism is unfounded and uncalled for. The guy is a FREE AGENT, it's his RIGHT to choose whatever team he wants to at the end of the season. Now people are arguing you can only leave the team that drafted you when youre in your mid 30s? Just makes zero sense.

Yeah well said.

Melo has told his team he is going to explore his options. He has every right to do it, if he doesnt want to be in Denver you cant force him to stay there and he shouldnt be frowned upon or called lame for doing so. He has done nothing wrong, has played 100%, and hasnt demanded or even asked to be traded.


Look at Cliff Lee, he left the Rangers a team he went to a championship with, turned down the Yankees ridiculous offer, and went to a place HE wanted to play in. I respect that. Just like I respect Melo's choice to be happy.

[CelticG1]

Has Carmelo demanded a trade? Has Carmelo quit on his team? Does Carmelo give less than 100% in games?

The criticism is unfounded and uncalled for. The guy is a FREE AGENT, it's his RIGHT to choose whatever team he wants to at the end of the season. Now people are arguing you can only leave the team that drafted you when youre in your mid 30s? Just makes zero sense.

Yeah well said.

Melo has told his team he is going to explore his options. He has every right to do it, if he doesnt want to be in Denver you cant force him to stay there and he shouldnt be frowned upon or called lame for doing so. He has done nothing wrong, has played 100%, and hasnt demanded or even asked to be traded.


Look at Cliff Lee, he left the Rangers a team he went to a championship with, turned down the Yankees ridiculous offer, and went to a place HE wanted to play in. I respect that. Just like I respect Melo's choice to be happy.

My bad I didn't know Melo was a free agent now, if he is then he should sign with whoever he wants to....

[guava_wrench]

Has Carmelo demanded a trade? Has Carmelo quit on his team? Does Carmelo give less than 100% in games?

The criticism is unfounded and uncalled for. The guy is a FREE AGENT, it's his RIGHT to choose whatever team he wants to at the end of the season. Now people are arguing you can only leave the team that drafted you when youre in your mid 30s? Just makes zero sense.

Yeah well said.

Melo has told his team he is going to explore his options. He has every right to do it, if he doesnt want to be in Denver you cant force him to stay there and he shouldnt be frowned upon or called lame for doing so. He has done nothing wrong, has played 100%, and hasnt demanded or even asked to be traded.


Look at Cliff Lee, he left the Rangers a team he went to a championship with, turned down the Yankees ridiculous offer, and went to a place HE wanted to play in. I respect that. Just like I respect Melo's choice to be happy.

My bad I didn't know Melo was a free agent now, if he is then he should sign with whoever he wants to....

While I am not a Melo fan, what has he really done? He has refused to sign an extension. That is why this is all a big deal. The extension offer is out there so it would make sense that he would negotiate. Negotiating could be just saying "I'll sign it if I will be traded to the Knicks".

Neither side is evil in this situation. Yet this issue won't go away unless he is traded or he signs the extension. Still, the Nuggets are in better shape with him being forthright than Cleveland was with Lebron still keeping them in the mix.

[NoraG1]

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.

KG spent more then a decade with a team that never came close to giving him enough talent. KG would have loved some of the help Carmelo had in Denver at times.

[guava_wrench]

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. 

Check your facts. The extension is on the table, unsigned. He is playing out his contract and plans on becoming a free agent. I have seen no evidence that he is not giving it his all compared to past seasons. Keep in mind his definition of effort has never been at KG or Kobe levels.

He apparently has told Denver he doesn't plan on staying which helps them plan for their future. There is nothing wrong with that. It is his prerogative. This will keep Denver from making short term moves like Cleveland did in order to appease their star now.

[dpaps]

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.

KG spent more then a decade with a team that never came close to giving him enough talent. KG would have loved some of the help Carmelo had in Denver at times.

What is this great supporting cast in Denver? In my opinion, they have NEVER been a championship contender. They've never been close to being as good as the Lakers or Celtics since 2008.

Billups then what...JR Smith? Kenyon Martin? Aaron Afflalo? Birdman? Shelden Williams? Gary Forbes?

If the Nuggets faced us in the finals I would bet my mortgage on the Green. I'd also bet my mortgage that the Nuggets wouldn't get through the Lakers.

KG had Sam Cassell and Spreewell. They made the 2004 Conference Finals. Pierce made the Conference Finals with us in 2001. Would Pierce have been that terrible of a person if we had won the lottery in 2007 instead of trading for KG and Ray Ray, and he had asked for a trade?

[dpaps]

Has Carmelo demanded a trade? Has Carmelo quit on his team? Does Carmelo give less than 100% in games?

The criticism is unfounded and uncalled for. The guy is a FREE AGENT, it's his RIGHT to choose whatever team he wants to at the end of the season. Now people are arguing you can only leave the team that drafted you when youre in your mid 30s? Just makes zero sense.

Whats your definition of "demanding" a trade? He hasn't put a gun to anyone's head but I'd say what he has done is as close as you get to demanding a trade.

What's your definition of "demanding" a trade? Because mine sure as heck isn't not signing an extension. Apparently the Celtics are demanding that Perk leave at the end of the year by not signing him to an extension yet.

[NoraG1]

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.

KG spent more then a decade with a team that never came close to giving him enough talent. KG would have loved some of the help Carmelo had in Denver at times.

What is this great supporting cast in Denver? In my opinion, they have NEVER been a championship contender. They've never been close to being as good as the Lakers or Celtics since 2008.

Billups then what...JR Smith? Kenyon Martin? Aaron Afflalo? Birdman? Shelden Williams? Gary Forbes?

If the Nuggets faced us in the finals I would bet my mortgage on the Green. I'd also bet my mortgage that the Nuggets wouldn't get through the Lakers.

KG had Sam Cassell and Spreewell. They made the 2004 Conference Finals. Pierce made the Conference Finals with us in 2001. Would Pierce have been that terrible of a person if we had won the lottery in 2007 instead of trading for KG and Ray Ray, and he had asked for a trade?

KG had Sam and Sprewell for one year (both in their 30s) and you are telling me Carmelo did not have any help as good or better then that? Seriously? Kenyon Martin and JR Smith And most importantly Billups are much better then the talent KG had around him most of the time and they were not in their 30s (Billups being the exception) . Other then that one year KG pretty much dragged teams to the playoffs with little to no chance of going anywhere.

[guava_wrench]

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.

KG spent more then a decade with a team that never came close to giving him enough talent. KG would have loved some of the help Carmelo had in Denver at times.

What is this great supporting cast in Denver? In my opinion, they have NEVER been a championship contender. They've never been close to being as good as the Lakers or Celtics since 2008.

Billups then what...JR Smith? Kenyon Martin? Aaron Afflalo? Birdman? Shelden Williams? Gary Forbes?

If the Nuggets faced us in the finals I would bet my mortgage on the Green. I'd also bet my mortgage that the Nuggets wouldn't get through the Lakers.

KG had Sam Cassell and Spreewell. They made the 2004 Conference Finals. Pierce made the Conference Finals with us in 2001. Would Pierce have been that terrible of a person if we had won the lottery in 2007 instead of trading for KG and Ray Ray, and he had asked for a trade?

AI and DPOY Camby have been there. Martin is a great defender. Nene is a legit big-man on offense. Billups is a legit PG. He has always been surrounded by players. Lebron would have had great success with those rosters.