<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Nuggets look ready to offer Carmelo Anthony a maximum contract.The Nuggets can start negotiating with the star forward next Saturday on an extension that would kick in for the 2007-08 season. He can sign between July 12-Oct 31 or he becomes a restricted free agent next summer."Come on. We all know," Nuggets coach George Karl said Saturday when asked if the Nuggets will make it a quick negotiation by offering Anthony a maximum deal.Karl put Anthony is the same category with fellow 2003 draftees LeBron James of Cleveland and Dwyane Wade of Miami. They, along with 2003 draftee Chris Bosh of Toronto, are all expected to sign maximum deals this summer."You got LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo," Karl said. "They're all going to I think end up where they are because we all like them."Anthony, named to the All-NBA third team after averaging 26.5 points, says he wants to re-sign this summer, but won't talk money. While the exact amount for a maximum deal that starts in 2007-08 won't be known until next summer, such a deal should start at about $13 million and be worth about $79 million over five years."If (the Nuggets) don't offer him the maximum, they'd be a fool," Denver swingman Ruben Patterson said Friday.Anthony also is hopeful of having more of a say in player personnel manners. While indicating that isn't necessarily his department, Karl did say "there's a middle ground that can make everybody happy.""I'm not going to deny that, in my time, I've called up my best players and said, 'Hey, we can get this guy,"' Karl said.Karl plans to name Anthony a captain next season. That goes along with a desire Anthony has expressed to have a bigger leadership role on the team."We're all excited about how he's moved," Karl said. "He's still got some physical growth. But I think the bigger window probably is (taking on more) leadership."Anthony is getting ready for USA Basketball's World Championship tryouts, which begin July 19 in Las Vegas. He worked out for several days in Washington D.C. earlier this month before spending last week working out with Nuggets coaches in Denver."We had just a great week with Melo," Karl said. "We're going to try to touch him before the Olympic stuff starts."Anthony's agent, Calvin Andrews, is hopeful Anthony can sign his extension before USA Basketball camp gets underway."They've indicated they want to get going soon," Andrews said of the Nuggets. "I don't know if it will be 12:01 (a.m. Eastern time next Saturday), but they want to start (negotiating) July 1."If Anthony is offered the maximum and some sort of input into player personnel matters, it should be an easy negotiation.</div>http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nba/...4800474,00.html :yess:
Like Rueben said, the Nuggets gotta be fools to not do this, he is the future of this team. All we need is another scorer and we could go past the 1st round at least.
Yea, the Nuggets would be fools not to do this. I see him right behind Wade and Lebron. Also, making him a captain of the team is a great decision by Karl :happy0144: I see Carmelo being a great leader for his teammates.
