The half-million Twitter followers of LaLa Vazquez got a treat Friday, when Carmelo Anthony’s Brooklyn-born celebrity wife tweeted frequently about the Nuggets. It was a first.
Vazquez twice pumped up that night’s showdown: “BigGame Tonight. NUGGETS vs. Lakers.” Then the former MTV VJ updated with scores across the night, turning into an overeager new-age basketball blogger.
Perhaps it was just coincidence that Vazquez suddenly had interest in Denver’s fortunes two days after Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov pulled out of trade negotiations with the Nuggets. A conspiracy theorist would deduce Vazquez had the realization Anthony may be stuck in Denver this season and showing support was a good way of having Rocky Mountain fans stop booing her hubby.
Several league officials believe Vazquez is primarily behind Anthony’s desire to play in New York, preferably for the Knicks. If the new power couple wants to assure that happening, if the former Syracuse star is sincere about comments that winning a championship is more important than the money, it’s clear what he must do next.
Memo to Anthony: Drop your trade demand, commit to trying to win a championship in your final year in Denver with a very talented cast. Then sign with the Knicks as a free agent this summer. Knicks president Donnie Walsh created maximum 2011 cap space just for you.
Walsh said yesterday nothing had changed since Prokhorov took his toys and went home. A source with knowledge of the situation said a deal between the Knicks and Denver would be “problematic.”
If Anthony can wait, Donnie Basketball will save precious assets such as Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler and Anthony Randolph, who is 21 years old, 6-foot-11 and still capable of a solid career. If Anthony wants to win a title with the Knicks, why would he want Walsh to trade three of those four young assets?
If Denver’s desperate management needs to trade Anthony as a rental property to a place he doesn’t want to be, so be it. He can refuse the extend-and-trade and be free for the Knicks in the summer.
Reports suggest Anthony is fearful of free agency, fearful a new collective bargaining agreement would be unfavorable to the league’s stars. Lower maximum contracts in length and yearly wage could be on the horizon.
However, the Players Association does not see it that way. The union would rather Anthony not make his decision based on a doomsday scenario served by commissioner David Stern.
If Anthony watched the Knicks on Saturday night in Oklahoma City, he saw Gallinari score as efficient a 23 points as you can notch. He can be the sixth man on a championship team that features a frontline of Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and possibly burly center Marc Gasol, also a restricted free agent. Walsh may need some assets for a sign-and-trade this summer with Memphis.
If Prokhorov gets back in the game — and my gut tells me he will — all bets are off. In fact, Stern should demand Prokhorov get back in the Anthony mix or face contraction.
But if Prokhorov is not bluffing, there is only one thing left for Anthony to do: Try to win a title in Denver and have Vazquez keep tweeting on the Nuggets.