It’s a situation that has been getting “curiouser and curiouser” by the hour. Over the past several days, almost half of the NBA has been involved in trade talks with unhappy Denver Nuggets‘ forward Carmelo Anthony. Teams appear to be playing one against another. And according to Howard Beck of the New York Times, the rumours are taking their toll on the entire league:
At least 12 teams — 40 percent of the league — have been snared in the Anthony intrigue at some point in the last six months. It has rained havoc on locker rooms in Newark and Detroit, New York and Chicago and, of course, in Denver. More than 20 players — Nets and Knicks, Pistons, Bobcats and Timberwolves — have seen their names attached to a rumored Anthony deal.
To be eliminated from the chase is to find peace.
“The rumors are over,” Derrick Favors, the Nets’ prized rookie forward, told reporters last week. “I don’t have to worry about them.”
Favors and the Nets’ Devin Harris acknowledged being unnerved by the reports. The Nuggets’ Chauncey Billups, who wants to finish his career in Denver, was also bothered.
The rumors have appeared to take a mental toll on the Knicks’ Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari.
The Pistons are still dealing with the fallout from an aborted three-way trade with the Nets and the Nuggets. At the peak of the talks, Detroit benched its onetime star Richard Hamilton, deepening a rift between them.
This isn’t at all as ridiculous at Lebron James‘ “Decision”. James’ ego nearly consumed the entire NBA for months. Anthony is just unhappy with the Nuggets and looking forward to a trade – especially since he has another year on his contract. But this kind of drama is not what he needs, not if he wants to escape with his reputation intact – unlike “King” James. Then, again, Anthony is currently doing all the right things. Namely, keeping his mouth shut.
[Source: AM Basketball]
