Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver. I don't blame him really and I like that he hasn't publicly demanded a trade (that's really a punk move to publicly demand a trade; you signed the contract so don't boo hoo when it doesn't go your way, you made your bed.). The Nuggets, in their current state, remind me of the Bucks from the 80s; really good, perennial top 5 in their respective conference but not quite good enough to compete for a championship. Carmelo came out in the same draft as LeBron, Wade and Bosh (and DARKO!) so it must feel a little awkward watching those guys have the ability to form a ridiculous super alliance while he's stuck being second round fodder at best in Denver. Anthony has his wish list (New York or Chicago) and the Nuggets front office has their "best" suitor (New Jersey). But what about a dark horse? Bucks are similar to horses, so why not a dark BUCK? Carmelo Anthony should become a Milwaukee Buck. Here's why and how it should happen.
It just makes sense: It really does. Carmelo is perfect for Milwaukee. Milwaukee is perfect for Carmelo (see how that works?). Think about it; the Bucks were arguably one of the worst offensive teams in the league in 2009-10 (The Bucks were 23rd in offensive efficiency, 25th in Effective Field Goal Percentage and tied for 27th in True Shooting Percentage [field goal percentage if accounting for 3 point and free throw shooting], thanks John Hollinger). We lacked a really solid offensive/scoring player, outside of our short time with John Salmons, Bogut as a convenient option at best and flashes from a struggling rookie in Brandon Jennings. Salmons is a dog historically, and amazes with his ability to be Jesus Shuttlesworth one year and can vanish into thin air the next. Can we hang our hats on a still raw Jennings, an Aussie who's arm EXPLODED and may never fully recover, and "Jimmy Hoffa" Salmons? Not at all.
What would it mean to add a guy like Carmelo Anthony? - A great chance at a championship, that's what! Carmelo is so good offensively that the other guys can pick their spots. While Jennings was chucking ill-advised shots at the end of a close game, Melo was sinking game winners in Denver. We lacked an offensive alpha dog last season and can you guess what Carmelo is??? An offensive ALPHA mutha' f&%$in' DOG! Exactly what this offensively challenged Bucks team needs! Anthony was ranked 13th last season in Player Efficiency, averaged 28.2 points per game while shooting over 45% from the field and 83% from the stripe, and actually raised all those averages in the playoffs. He is possibly the best scorer in the league and the Bucks are one of the worst scoring teams in the league. If Anthony is on last year's Bucks team they don't lose to the Hawks and have a shot to beat the Celtics and you can, in the words of Kobe, "take that to the bank!" If Bogut is healthy, they challenge the Lakers for the chip. One player (or two if you count Bogut) means the difference between first round exit and playing for the Larry O'Brien trophy. Melo has the grapefruits to take and (to a very successful degree) make the game winner. Milwaukee needs Carmelo.
Oh but wait, yeah the Bucks need Anthony but guess what?! Carmelo Anthony NEEDS the Bucks. Look at the other "suitors:"
New York Knicks: Carmelo and Amare are an AMAZING front court scoring combo! Unfortunately, nobody can pass to them and their next best player would probably warm the bench if he played for the Timberwolves. 8th seed in the East at best. NEXT!
Chicago Bulls: Anthony is in an awkward position in every close game in the fourth quarter when Derrick Rose decides he can actually shoot from long range (he can't) and Carlos Boozer is coasting while thinking about how he fleeced another team into thinking he's a top big man on a contender. Carmelo could be a second banana, but a third? Probably not. By the way Joakim Noah (the only real gamer/intangibles guy on the Bulls roster) is on the Nuggets because it took him being traded to get Carmelo there in the first place. NEXT!
Houston Rockets: Carmelo is a darling in Houston, they have some nice pieces and with him they can make a nice playoff run...but they don't have the ability to win a championship. Sound familiar? Yeah, they'd be Denver Nuggets South! NEXT!
New Jersey Nets: Remember when David Caruso left 'NYPD Blue?' Caruso was on his way to Hollywood to rip things up. TV was small potatoes and he was going to make it in Hollywood. His best effort? "Jade" starring Linda Fiorentino. What? Who? Exactly! New Jersey offers the slim opportunity of being in a big market (Brooklyn) with big upside and opportunity. Next thing you know, you're starring in "Jade" related to commercial success as starring for the New Jersey Nets related to NBA success. Melo leaving Denver for New Jersey and uncertainty = David Caruso leaving 'NYPD Blue' for 'Jade.' By the way, Caruso returned to TV (small market stuff) and became quite successful on 'C.S.I. Miami.' So maybe Melo should cut out that far-fetched plan and head straight to...
The Milwaukee Bucks!: If the Bucks had a craigslist posting it might read like this: "Wanted: Offensive alpha dog with clutch chops to complement defensively excellent team with championship aspirations." Carmelo Anthony has to answer that post. He doesn't have to try as hard defensively because his supporting cast plays defense like he's never seen from any team he's been on. Not to mention: Bogut > Nene, K-Mart, Jennings future > Billups future, Milwaukee's supporting cast > Denver's supporting cast. Carmelo in Milwaukee with a healthy Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings = possible dynasty. All the important guys are UNDER 27! Compare that situation to Miami's, seriously; Bogut is far better than Bosh, Carmelo is in the discussion with LeBron, and Jennings is a guy capable of competing with Wade and he's barely old enough to drink (yes Wade is better but reaching the end of his prime, while Jennings is a BABY and might become transcendent). Couple that with Miami having a pu pu platter for a supporting cast and Milwaukee having great defense, a good defensive coach, John Salmons, Luc Richard M'bah a Moute, Drew Gooden, Corey Maggette and Carlos Delfino. Is it that inconceivable to think the Bucks, with Carmelo Anthony, can beat the Heat? Absolutely not! Look at this lineup:
C - Andrew Bogut (all star, top 3 defensive center)
PF - Drew Gooden/ Luc Richard M'bah a Moute (effective scorer, rebounder/athletic, defensive stopper)
SF - Carmelo Anthony ('nuff said)
SG - John Salmons (extremely good player when motivated; championship goals motivate)
PG - Brandon Jennings (2009-10 Rookie of the Year* [* = I'm a homer!])
Bench: Corey Maggette, Gooden/M'bah a Moute, Carlos Delfino, Keyon Dooling, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Jon Brockman, Tiny Gallon etc. (we're deep)
This team competes for the NBA Finals championship for years to come. No bull.
Denver should trade Carmelo to Milwaukee because: It makes sense for both sides. Denver knows that they are in limbo right now. They can't really compete but they don't want to rebuild. Milwaukee is young, disciplined and on the upswing. They can't really compete but they are one good piece away from being championship contenders. Denver needs good young players and cap space. Milwaukee needs an alpha dog scorer. Denver and Milwaukee are yin and yang. They are the 'black and white cookie' trade partners. It makes so much sense it hurts. There are a lot of trade possibilities, but this one makes complete, ridiculously evident, give me a break, no sh*t, of course sense:
Denver trades: Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith
Milwaukee trades: Michael Redd, Larry Sanders, Ersan Ilyasova/Chris Douglas-Roberts, Francisco Elson's Trade Exception, and one or two future 1st round draft picks
Let's break the trade down: If Denver is giving up Carmelo they want good, young, athletic players, draft picks and above all cap space. Denver should take this trade everyday of the week because it offers everything they need. First of all, they get 2010 first round draft pick Larry Sanders, who looks like he could be an extremely talented, athletic, and defensive minded (think young Kenyon Martin) power forward/center that may have 3 point range to boot. Second, they get either Ersan Ilyasova (a guy who is 6'10", can hit the 3 at high percentage, buys into playing solid defense, and is a stud on Turkey's national team) or Chris Douglas-Roberts (an extremely effective scorer, overachiever, good all-around gamer, perennial 6th Man of the Year guy from here on out) in the young blue-chipper portion of the trade. Third, the Bucks can throw one or two future first round picks at the Nuggets. Fourth and most importantly, the Bucks can offer much needed cap relief to the Nuggets. Denver will not only get $18 million off the books by picking up Michael Redd but another near $2 million in relief with the Elson Trade Exception. Denver gets two solid young players who can immediately be big parts in their rotation (one of which could be an all-star and the other a valuable 6th man/starter down the road), at least one first round draft pick and a guy whose contract is bigger than Carmelo's coming off the books with more salary relief on top of that. Take into account, they are desperate to get rid of J.R. Smith (which would also be a good fit in Milwaukee) and it works out freakishly well from Denver's end.
It's already known how Milwaukee can benefit; we get an alpha dog that is locked in and can potentially sign an extension (he's contending and happy and there is a possible new collective bargaining agreement in the future that may mean less money for players; he's happy, he'll sign an extension) and also we get a 40% from 3 point range guy who can score 20+ on any given night in Smith. Where does either team lose? The Nuggets get good young players, draft picks and cap relief for a guy who was going to leave them without compensation anyway. The Bucks get their first real alpha dog since Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (wow) and the opportunity to play for a championship for the better part of the next decade. Milwaukee should be more excited about that idea than Ben Roethlisberger at a sorority house with a pocket full of roofies (Why go there? Nobody is reading and Ben's a sketchy asshole, that's why!). It's a better deal than the Nets Troy Murphy, Kris Humphries, Derrick Favors excuse for a deal is. If the Nets are the gold standard, the Bucks are platinum.
Carmelo should be a Milwaukee Buck. Let's make it happen, John Hammond! I laid the groundwork, all you need to do is make a phone call.
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