My thoughts on the Carmelo Anthony Trade rumor.

     The Denver Nuggets are my favorite NBA team, and currently are in the midst of a storm with rumors about Carmelo Anthony's departure.  The trade talks and rumors have been swirling since the Summer 2010 Free Agent class did their part in shaking up the league.  The next guy in line was/is Carmelo Anthony.  Immediately trade talks started with rumors of another Super Team like the one that formed in Miami.  Countless teams and players have been mentioned in the rumors swirling around this next big projected shake-up.
     The current deal said to be on the brink of closure has Carmelo Anthony taking Chauncey Billups with him to the New Jersey Nets.  Its a three team deal, with the Nets getting Anthony, Billups, Shelden Williams and Anthony Carter all from the Nuggets, and Rip Hamilton from the Detroit Pistons.  The Nuggets are also trying to include Al Harrington in the trade, but the Nets don't want him according to the rumors.  The trade would send rookie power forward Derrick Favors to Denver, along with some lottery draft picks.  

     Denver is trying to avoid getting "Lebron'd", a term that came about after Lebron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers with nothing after deciding to take his talents to South Beach.  Derrick Favors and the lottery picks offer them a chance at rebuilding with a young team.  

     As a Nuggets fan, I've been in support of Carmelo Anthony through the whole debacle, but its starting to look like its affecting his play, as well as the play of the whole team.  Yes, I would like to see him stay in Denver, but I understand his want to be in a larger market, and somewhere where his wife will have more opportunities in the entertainment world.  It will be hard to see him leave Denver, but its beginning to look easier with the play of the last few games.
     So it looks as though the Nuggets will be rebuilding.  I think they already have a solid core to start with.  Ty Lawson is a very promising young point guard who, in my opinion, gets overlooked.  He has the ability to just blow by people on the court, he does have a disadvantage in only being 5'11", but the positives heavily outweigh the negatives.  They also have Arron Afflalo and Nene, who are both having career years.  Afflalo has improved greatly his last couple of years in Denver, he is now more of an offensive threat and still keeps his great defensive ability.  Nene is leading the league in field goal percentage, and has more speed than probably any other center in the league.  And lets not forget Kenyon Martin is still building back up to being able to play with no limits on time.  He is a defensive leader when he's on the team and helps in getting in the mind of the other teams.  Last year the short time he was fully healthy, he was getting double-doubles pretty much every game.  J.R. Smith also offers some positive, he hasn't been doing that great lately, but we all know he has the potential.  Coach Karl says J.R. is showing maturity these days, lets hope he can be mature and consistent with his playing.  When you figure in Birdman coming off the bench sparking energy, blocking shots, rebounding and giving another strong defensive presence and the long history of Coach Karl, you can see how this team still has potential without Anthony.  

     In my opinion, the Nuggets still have a strong core and have potential to remain a strong team in the West and in the NBA.  They will be lacking a franchise player, though.  With Anthony and Billups, the only closers the team really has leaving, the close games will be tough and some that should be close won't be anymore.  I'm keeping faith in the Nuggets and Coach Karl, though.  Perhaps if/when Anthony finally leaves it will clear the skies of Denver, and they'll start playing better because they won't have one guy to rely on.  They have players who have the ability, the time may be coming for them to step up and show they can compete with the league's elite.