Some breaking news directly from the reliable folks over at the Denver Post reveals that Carmelo Anthony may be joining this NBA player movement bonanza and leave the Nuggets this offseason. Read on for more info on Melo’s plans.
The Denver Nuggets are pressing Carmelo Anthony for a long-term commitment, because if he declines a three-year, $65 million contract extension now on the table, the team must consider trading its leading scorer.
With an eye on how megastars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have held the league’s competitive balance in their fickle hands and turned this summer’s free-agency period into a three-ring circus, the Nuggets seem determined not to let Anthony do the same in Denver.
While their offer of a hefty contract extension proves the Nuggets hope Anthony will remain the face of the franchise for years to come, the team is prepared to trade Melo rather than let him walk as a free agent next summer, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
If the Nuggets want to maximize a deal with Carmelo, they need to strike prior to all the teams with the available cap space to pounce on Melo.
Carmelo will have some veto power over where he goes due to the fact that if he refuses an extension with the new team, they’re not trading anything for him either.
The Nuggets are probably around $5-6 million into the luxury tax, so moving Melo for nothing would amount to a $22-23 million savings.
Stay tuned for more on the NBA free agency fest.
