By Migs
According to communication theorist Marshall McLuhan, "the medium is the message". In the case of the Carmelo Anthony saga, the aforementioned quote couldn't be more true.
I could give you the 1,001 ways a potential 'Melo deal could go down. But then, I don't want to bore you. By now, you've probably read about the many ways a deal could be consummated, courtesy of Yahoo Sports, ESPN, or CNNSI. I will, on the other hand, say this- Denver fans, I feel, are secretly wishing that a trade happen already, so that they can move on sans distractions. I think that Anthony's handled the speculation that's swirled around him like a trouper, and, I share in the Denver fans' frustration about the lack of a deal at this point, too. I realize that there are a lot of items to consider, but then, at the end of the day, I think that Masai Ujiri and the Nuggets' top brass have been acting like headless chickens. If we were to see business as business, it really won't matter what Carmelo says at the end of the day, as to where he wants to go, or how he wants to go. What will hold water is the fact that Denver is a now a weary squad that needs a purging, and such a reformat is incumbent upon the Nuggets' top management to facilitate. The fact that us fans see the dirty laundry and to and fro nature of the potential deal with Nets in all its nakedness is evidence of the fact that Denver is indeed a franchise in flux, so much so that the "outside world" has become privy to their pains. The medium is indeed the message, and based on what Denver's done, the message being sent to us is that 'Melo is a hot potato that the Nuggets are reluctant to part with. That reluctance is now segueing into being unprofessional, with talks straining, supposedly, because they keep changing blueprints at the last minute. Damn if you do, damn if you don't, and if you will, cut and cut cleanly. Don't hold your fanbase hostage. Don't give the media the chance to scoop up mud and hurl it at you. I'm just saying that this better fall through soon, lest we see a fallout of epic proportions. If 'Melo holds out until the end of the season, then the franchise gets held hostage by the looming inevitability of Anthony signing with the Knicks next summer anyhow. Now that's a distraction worthy of Times Square. In the end, the Nugs don't only lose 'Melo, they also, potentially, part with him, and maybe even Chauncey Billups, on bad terms. Even Amare Stoudamire playing out his last year in Phoenix didn't get this much traction because of the way the Suns played everything on the down low. This 'Melo matter has been inflated and overexposed, hence, the itch to get this all over with, one way or the other.
In a recent report from Stephen A. Smith, Rasheed Wallace has said that he wants to return to the Boston Celtics for another crack at the Lakers. The former Technical Foul kingpin would, potentially, join an aging frontline of Jermaine and Shaquille O'Neal, Kendrick Perkins, and Kevin Garnett, a ton of beef that, many still believe, would prove to be too much for the upstart Miami Heat to handle come playoff time. 'Sheed's outside shooting and length should help, but, wouldn't Boston be better served trying to get a younger talent? On the other hand, veteran leadership tends to be better suited when it comes to handling postseason stress, and 'Sheed's been through his share of wars. The Celtics have great chemistry at this juncture anyway, and making any bold trades for younger talent would constitute rocking the boat, maybe a little too much for Doc Rivers' liking. So, best of luck on your comeback, 'Sheed. Maybe we can see Antoine Walker back in Celtics' green soon, too?
Former Timberwolf and Cavalier Sasha Pavlovic has signed a 10 day deal with the Dallas Mavericks. With recent injuries to MVP-candidate Dirk Nowitzki and the rugged Caron Butler, Pavlovic looks to fill an offensive void at the 2 and 3 spot. He averaged 7.1 points per outing for the woebegone Minnesota Timberwolves last year, and while he isn't exactly a sure ball threat, he is a low risk, high reward cager for the Mavs at this juncture. He has been questionable on defense at times before, but then, the Mavericks could have done worse. This is the same squad that took on the contract of shooter Matt Carroll, and this is the same franchise that put up with Erick Dampier all those years. They could have done worse. This "audition" for Pavlovic is also an indicator of the fact that the Mavericks still do intend to be players come the trade deadline, otherwise, they would have signed somebody to a more long term deal already.
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