The ridiculous farce is heard at full volume in Denver, heard throughout the community that is left in uncertainty and now is curious to know if Carmelo Anthony is really leaving the Rocky Mountains for Brooklyn, N.Y., his native town where he blossomed as a ballplayer.
In the wake of the lingering speculations, this is certainly turning into a tiring charade, as it's still uncertain whether Anthony would be willing to sign an extension with the New Jersey Nets, a team that has explored roughly to acquire Anthony. From what it seems, these days of course, the Nets are optimistic it can obtain Anthony, who hasn't signed a three-year, $64.47 million contract extension and could opt out of his deal and declare for free-agency next summer.
But there is a clear understanding that the Nets need him, just as much as he needs them and he could very easily lift into a megastar for a town that endears sports, anxious to witness a stud produce an enthralled masterpiece near the entertaining parts of New York City.
In such an ultimate transition, which is a dreaming process until it finally turns into reality, he'd bring in revenue and Jay-Z, one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs operating his fruitful business, would pocket more money with the presence of a superstar. So now, as if the Nets faithful implores for Anthony's availability, he assured that it wasn't his final game in a Nuggets uniform, still the considerable megastar in Denver.
"This is not my last game," Anthony said after win over Phoenix at the Pepsi Center. "I'll be here playing against Miami Thursday. You all will have another interview with me Thursday. Guaranteed. I guarantee you that."
Surely, he's known as the icon for the Nuggets, and no matter how we view it, he possibly could re-sign with Denver. Few believe, though, that he'll accept a proposed deal to play for New Jersey before the trade deadline comes to a closure by Feb. 24. And while most people won't dwell on Anthony's talent, he is a strong, gifted forward with streaky shooting and muscular upper body strength to make an impact in his sturdy interior game.
So far, according to reports, whether its accurate or inaccurate, he's reluctant to sign an extension with the Nets. It wasn't figurative to assume that he was a Net by the next 24 hours, not because of the Nets, but because of his demands or ever changeable mood. The next time facts surface, in mere hours maybe, he could be on his way to New Jersey, and stand as the big-name player near Broadway. Anthony, cramped by inquisitive reporters regularly these days, responds vaguely and handles the hearsay of potential trade rumors that seems truthful in a way.
This is figured to be one of the overzealous sports environments in America, filled with a cult of cheerful fans who honestly revere their pro franchises for a sense of sanity and excitement. It's like a cultural habitude, with cheerful nights at the Madison Square Garden, a place where traditionally epic performances are witnessed, to simply worship sports figures and their brand of talent. Then, if so, New Jersey is fittingly a nice landing spot for Anthony to convert from a smaller city to a famous sports town that glorifies the infatuations of sports.
One day the Nets intend to establish a new home in their state-of-the-art arena, the $1 billion Barclays Center located in Brooklyn, New York, scheduled to open in 2012. In essence, the 22-acre project is expected to have 18,000 seats and will greatly create jobs in a jobless environment. And if Anthony comes along, it increasingly inflates the revenue in a poor community that has been struck hard by the recession, let alone reinforces the popularity of a young and talented team.
There's a side of me that says his presence, not only deepens the Nets fame, but also diverts the attention of a franchise with mediocrity and hopefulness. Anytime a team possesses a superstar, he's a ticket seller. All of which, the Nets are begging for Anthony, but hasn't been aggressive and instead stubborn to compromise with the biggest name on the trade block.
His arrival cures the dysfunction and could turn the Nets into an automatic playoff competitor, but the inactive Nets aren't pursuing him with assertiveness or desire, yet they are truly interested in snatching Anthony before the trade deadline passes. He's too special of a player to pass on, too athletic and durable to ignore if the Nuggets are willing to send the forward elsewhere. Truth be told, he is rightfully deemed as one of the active forwards in basketball and has the recipe to be an irresistible sharpshooter from beyond the perimeter, just as much as he has the finesse to score in the paint.
As the Nets are incapable to complete a deal for Anthony, Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire has intently tried to convince the Nuggets star that he wants him to play in New York. If so, it forms a workable tandem, but as it appears, Anthony is unsure of what he desires even after he publicly announced at one point that he'd be willing to play with the Knicks. But as of late, hearing all the rumors and nonsense regarding his next destination, he tries to downplay the unknown and his future status.
It wasn't long ago, when he delivered dumbfounded messages that he is intrigued to sign a contract extension with the Nuggets and stay a resident near the Rocky Mountains. After all, he began his acknowledged career in Denver and mellowed into a primary star in a city that has pleaded for him to remain in a Nuggets uniform, satisfied with his maintenance and role. But what's more confusing is that he told a couple of his teammates he wouldn't mind joining the Nets, and encouraged his agent to organize a package that sends Anthony to the Nets.
Twice already, Denver general manager Masai Ujiri has reneged and pulled out on potential deals, although he has made calls to Eastern Conference teams trying to regulate a deal and acquire New Jersey point guard Devin Harris in exchange for Anthony. For now, the Nets are in pursuit of getting Anthony and know he's a fitted asset alongside the seven-footer Brook Lopez. If this deal ever happens, the Nets could be exciting to watch next decade and compel the fervid crowd to visit the modern creations of the franchise's new foundation in Brooklyn.
First, nonetheless, it's imperative the Nets actively seek the assistance of a valuable superstar that aids the team long term. The next week, minus the speculations and hoopla with the Anthony saga, he might be wearing a Nets uniform. It's been wildly a suspenseful week, regardless that Anthony said he wishes to stay in Denver, and divulged that his wife, LaLa Vazquez, a Brooklyn, N.Y., has not dictated his decision on where he plays next season.
It's time for a change, a different direction, now that Avery Johnson solidifies discipline and cultivates a dissimilar attitude to favor one of the youngest rosters in the league. As a way to avoid the queries, Harris insisted that he's not focused on reports of possible trades in a blockbuster deal to land Anthony. Earlier this week, he declined to speak with the media at practice Monday and Tuesday, but finally talked to the media for the first time since Saturday night.
"I've been dealing with it since the summertime," Harris said of the trade rumors. "Until it's imminent, we've just got to focus on playing basketball. That's all we can do."
For once, maybe it was a positive note that this marriage remains intact in Denver, but the Nets are still lurking, just as much as the Knicks are in conversations to obtain Anthony. Then again, the Nets can vow that he's a needed commodity to form a championship-caliber team and dominant at will in the much-improved Eastern Conference. And if the Nets are aiming for superiority in the league, Anthony is the proper name.
For now, anyway, the Nets remain in conversations for Anthony.
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