Carmelo Knots Up His Own NBA Saga

Source: http://online.wsj.com

Just when you thought the summer was safe from yet another psychoanalysis of a restless NBA superstar, here comes the sticky saga of Carmelo Anthony's Big, Fat Denver-Bashing Wedding.

The other day, ESPN's Ric Bucher offered an intriguing account of Mr. Anthony's lavish July wedding in New York City (Weren't invited? Sorry). According to Mr. Bucher's report, after Mr. Anthony married the former MTV host La La Vazquez at the 42nd St. Cipriani, he was toasted by a number of NBA luminaries, including Chris Paul and Amar'e Stoudemire, who boldly suggested Mr. Anthony ditch Denver and elope with the Knicks.

Mr. Anthony, 26, is in the final year of his deal with the Nuggets and has to date declined to sign a reported three-year, $65 million extension.

Then it got uncomfortable, according to the report. After Mr. Paul and Mr. Stoudemire spoke, Mr. Anthony was said to have been saluted by Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke, who has helped make the former Syracuse star the very rich face of his franchise. Mr. Kroenke tried to make a joke about the previous toasts, suggesting that instead of Carmelo becoming a Knick, Mr. Paul, who now plays for the Hornets, should join the Nuggets.

"But that elicited no response," Mr. Bucher wrote.

Oof. To the dance floor, everybody! Who wants to do the "Electric Slide"?

That Awkward Moment in Midtown has helped propel a fresh round of rumors that Mr. Anthony—presumed to be the biggest free agent on next summer's market—will change teams before the start of this season.

Denver seems determined to not become the next Cleveland. If the Nuggets are convinced Mr. Anthony is committed to bailing, why not try to get something now, instead of crossing their fingers and getting nothing but a full-page ad in the Akron Beacon Journal?

Now the Knicks are on the clock. They're reportedly trying to tempt the Nuggets with Danilo Gallinari, a future draft pick, the rights to the remaining portions of Eddy Curry, a gift certificate to Russ & Daughters and an old futon found outside on Chrystie St.

Landing Mr. Anthony would be a fine acquisition. But how can the Knicks pull off this deal without recruiter nonpareil Isiah Thomas?

Of course, the Knicks aren't the only ones in the Carmelo mix. Mr. Anthony is reportedly interested in the Orlando Magic, too. Washington could be another option. One has to presume that the plutocrat Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov would step up and offer Mr. Anthony the moon.

We don't mean that figuratively. Prokho bought the moon this summer for $12 billion and is turning it into a Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio/wave pool/falconry range.

Source: http://online.wsj.com

This has been a long, strange summer of hard feelings in the NBA. The hangover from LeBron James's "Decision" has yet to subside. On Tuesday, GQ published a cover story in which Taking His Talents told GQ that when he was young, he and his friends from Akron loathed the city of Cleveland. "We hated Cleveland growing up," he said. "There's a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate to this day."

Amazing. Who is Mr. James's media coach, Ron Burgundy?

Mr. Anthony is wisely keeping quiet. He isn't making big public promises. He's letting the back channels do their thing. He'll likely avoid a prime-time special with Jim Gray.

Maybe he'll stay. Maybe he'll come. If the latter happens, one thing's for certain: Denver is totally going to ask Mr. Anthony for that wedding blender back.

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