2010 NBA Free Agency - A Big 3 In New York City (Part 1 of 3)

Since the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics have all finished finalizing their roster for the upcoming season, maybe we should start turning our attention back to the New York Knicks. Will the Knicks get New York native Carmelo Anthony to join them next year? Will Chris Paul get his wish and form his own big 3 with Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony in New York? Most people think it's a longshot, but little do they know that it doesn't take much for this to happen ...

1) Carmelo Anthony really wants to play in New York
Well, everyone knows Carmelo Anthony wants to play in his hometown New York. But what makes it happen is that Carmelo doesn't seems to care about money. Under the new CBA next year, players are expected to earn a lot less than what they are receiving right now. And there's the possibility of a lockout. Still, Anthony has decided to not sign, at least for now, the 3-year, $65 million contract extension that the Denver Nuggets put on the table. If this isn't enough, he has already put his Denver home for sale at $9.5 million. He really seems determined to join the New York Knicks next season as an unrestricted free agent ...

2) The Denver Nuggets have passed their peak
Some might think this is just a tactical move by Carmelo to force the management to further improve the Nuggets' roster (after the Al Harrington's signing), but it would be insane for him to give up that much money for something's not going to happen. With almost $28 million tied to the oft-injured pair of Kenyon Martin and Nene for this upcoming season, there is no way the Denver Nuggets could bring in an impact player or two that will help them beating the Los Angeles Lakers and/or winning the tough Western Conference ...

3) The Denver Nuggets should go for a total rebuild
And take a look at the Denver Nuggets' contract situation ...

Player	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
Carmelo Anthony	$17.1 million	$18.5 million (player)	- - - - - - - -
Kenyon Martin	$16.5 million	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - -
Chauncey Billups	$13.2 million	$14.2 million (team)	- - - - - - - -
Nene	$11.4 million	$11.6 million (player)	- - - - - - - -
J.R. Smith	$6.0 million	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - -
Arron Afflalo	$2.0 million	$2.9 million (team)	- - - - - - - -
Anthony Carter	$1.4 million	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - -
Shelden Williams	$0.9 million	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - -
Coby Karl	$0.9 million	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - -
Brian Butch	$0.8 million	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - -

If the Denver Nuggets decide to go for a rebuild, there will be no better time than the next summer as most of their contracts end after next season. (Nene's contract will end one more season after.) And it's not like they have a choice to opt for not rebuilding. Firstly, Chauncey Billups will be 34 years old next month. Secondly, even if they were able to re-sign or extend all of their free agents, they would still be a 1st round or 2nd round playoff team in the tough Western Conference. Therefore, I really don't see Carmelo Anthony wearing a Nugget uniform by 2011 ...

( Continued in Part 2 )