The Denver Nuggets have had trade offers from the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, and most recently with the New Jersey Nets for Carmelo Anthony. Earlier today Nets owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, announcing the Nets will not continue to pursue Anthony.
The Nets proposed deal sent Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and two first-round draft picks to the Nuggets (along with Anthony Morrow, Ben Uzoh and Stephen Graham from the Detroit Pistons).
From the Nuggets standpoint, I think that is plenty for a guy who has already stated that he will opt out of his last year and become a free agent. Derrick Favors was the number three overall pick in this year’s draft, Devin Harris is a good young point guard and two first-round draft picks could build a nice foundation for the future.
Instead, the Nuggets have been greedy and want Al Harrington and his outrageous contract to be part of the deal.
If Anthony isn’t dealt before the trade deadline in late February, the Nuggets will be in rough shape. Anthony will opt out of his contract and the Nuggets will lose their franchise player. Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith are also free agents and the aging Chauncey Billups is gone after 2012.
The Nuggets are still playing well at 23-17, so they are looking at a mid first-round draft pick. Nothing you can count on to build a franchise around. And with the recent trend of stars wanting to play together, the Nuggets can’t count on and top-tier players signing.
So unless the Nuggets management knows something we don’t know or they believe the Aztecs were right and the world is going to end in 2012, they need to take what they can get before their franchise is set back 10 years.