Breaking News: Denver Nuggets Player Revealed He Never Requested To Trade Away
Wednesday witnessed a remarkable hypothetical scenario in the world of sports.
During an episode of Dwyane Wade’s The Why Podcast, Carmelo Anthony disclosed that the Denver Nuggets came close to trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers instead of the New York Knicks. According to Melo, the deal was practically sealed but was ultimately called off by Nuggets ownership, who were reluctant to see their star player remain in the Western Conference. This revelation on the podcast is expected to generate significant attention, particularly as Melo reiterated that he never actually requested a trade from Denver. When it became evident that he was on the move, one of the proposed deals involved him joining the Lakers in exchange for Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum.
This potential trade would have placed a prime Carmelo Anthony on the team that had defeated his Nuggets in the conference finals just a year and a half earlier. He would have been teammates with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, forming a formidable lineup for Denver’s biggest rival. Melo expressed reluctance towards the idea of rebuilding, especially after tasting success in the conference finals. He expressed frustration with rumors of rebuilding efforts by the Nuggets, stating that after six years of hard work, he was not inclined to start over. Despite initial talks with the Lakers, the deal fell through, leading to Melo’s eventual trade to the New York Knicks. Interestingly, the initial deal was with the New Jersey Nets, and there were discussions involving other teams like Chicago as well.
If the Lakers trade had materialized, it would have significantly altered NBA history. Melo, despite only winning one playoff series after leaving Denver, and Kobe, who only won two more playoff series at that point, might have experienced different outcomes. The Lakers, with Melo onboard, might have put up a stronger fight against teams like Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks and the emerging Oklahoma City Thunder. This trade would have also impacted subsequent moves in the league, such as Dwight Howard’s trade to the Lakers and Steve Nash’s eventual move to LA.
On the other hand, the Nuggets would have missed out on acquiring players like Jamal Murray and might have ended up with an older roster comprising players like Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. Despite this, Denver eventually found success, winning the championship in 2023-24, partly attributed to making the right decisions regarding the Melo trade. As for Anthony, he eventually played for the Lakers alongside his friend LeBron James before retiring, completing a full-circle journey.