The Golden Nugget

So...there's a lot of talk out there right about now about Carmelo, and how he wants out of Denver and all these teams are looking to get in line to win the 'Melo sweepstakes. The feeling (as he has not/cannot come out and say "I want a trade") is that he's feeling New York/Chicago the most, and into the mix have inserted themselves the groups from New Jersey and Houston, at last count. New York eyes the new Bernard King, and wants to pair his act with Amar'e (aka STAT) and bring the Big Apple back to hoops relevance.

After a summer of Cleveland and Toronto watching their super stars walk for nothing at contracts end, many are (rightly) saying that the Nugs need to get what they can for 'Melo before he bolts for greener pastures leaving them with nothing to show for his years in the L. And I think that may be the point. What HAS Carmelo really left or is leaving Denver with? Some great play his rookie season? Sure. A few exciting playoff appearances? Check. An exciting series against the Lake Show that really showcased the boneheaded nature of the team assembled in the Mile High? Pretty much. The point here is that (much like LeBron and Bosh before him) 'Melo is pretty much feeling like Denver hasn't done enough to get him to the promised land of a championship, and he wants to walk to a team that gives him a better shot at making it to the Finals (a place he's never been).

But his preferred destinations, and one of his aggressive pursuers, are in the East. Wouldn't the recent shift of power towards Miami seem to make the East a (somewhat) less desirable destination? In the West, there's LA....and then everyone else. OKC has Durant/Westbrook and put the Lakers through a hell of a test last season. But then LA pounded their next two opponents in two series that shouldn't have even been as close as they appeared to be. But other than maybe OKC, there's a huge disparity between the 2-8 teams in the West. Isn't it conceivable that with a little luck, and an injury or two, that if the Lakers aren't there, the West is wide open for anyone to win? Look at the East by comparison. Okay, we all know about Miami and the SuperHeat. Then you still got Boston, who've been to 2 out of the last 3 Finals (with one of those ending in a 'chip). Then there's Orlando, the other Finals candidate, who pummeled everyone on their way to the Finals 2 years ago and were close this year. Then you've got about 2-3 other teams in Chicago/Milwaukee/Atlanta who either got better over the summer, or took the year to season their talented squad and could jump up and surprise some folks. THIS is the conference 'Melo wants to defect to? Would you (if your stated goal was to try to win it all) head out of the conference where there's 1 team to beat, to the conference where there's at least 3, with maybe a total of 5 squads with a reasonable chance to advance to the Finals? Is this really about 'chips, because its not about money (Denver can max him, and has offered the extension even before knowing where the next CBA will take us) or is it maybe something else entirely? Some have floated the idea that its more about family issues (wife related or going home to the Baltimore area) and if that is the case, then good on 'Melo for deciding that some things are more important that winning the title. Because I'm thinking if this was all about basketball and winning, then the surest destination would be to stay in Denver and hope his GM can add a piece or two to help them get over the hump against LA and stay as close as the Western Conference Finals. Rather than moving east and finding out the grass maybe was greener on the side of the fence that he just left before its too late to do anything more than have regrets about it.

-Shawn