Denver Nuggets decade series: the trade of the 2010s
Nugg Love continues its decade series with a trip down memory lane to the 2010-2011 season. This pivotal trade set Denver up for the rest of the decade.
The Nugg Love staff enjoys watching the current era of the Denver Nuggets. Ironically, this rendition of our beloved Nuggets wouldn’t exist without a trade dating eight years ago. In the spirit of our decade theme month, we discuss the trade that blossomed a new regime.
Carmelo Anthony falling to the Denver Nuggets in the 2003 NBA draft, was as luck-filled as Kawhi Leonard’s game-winning shot against the Philadelphia 76ers. Sometimes, all it takes is a little good fortune to turn around years of misery.
Anthony led Denver to a playoff appearance after a 26-game turnaround in only his rookie season. Winning the NBA lottery isn’t as easy scratching a ticket. It took Denver eight seasons to compensate the fans for watching a losing team for almost a decade.
Ironically, years of failure birthed a winner. Anthony was like a child who saved a marriage. Seven consecutive playoff appearances between two head coaches, in most part due to Anthony’s offensive prowess.
Unfortunately, the star forward failed to lead the Denver Nuggets past the first round except for the 2008-2009 season. It’s debatable that Chauncey Billups, who Denver traded for the same season, was the actual catalyst for a Western Conference Finals appearance.
Two years later, the marriage which Anthony once rejuvenated, was nearing its end. Nothing lasts forever. In Anthony’s defense, he gave his partner a fair warning, thus giving the Denver Nuggets a chance to come out with a few valuables post marriage.
An extravagant exchange
The domino effect which was caused by the three-team trade with Carmelo Anthony as the grand prize would change the two teams for the duration of the decade. For the sake of saving you precious time, we’ll cut to the vital pieces exchanged and what became of them.
Denver traded Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, and Shelden Williams, and a 2016 first-round pick. In exchange, New York happily, yet foolishly, traded Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danillo Gallinari, Timofey Mosgov, two second-round picks, and most importantly, a 2016 first-round pick, which turned into Jamal Murray.
The Knicks gutted its roster for a star who could have just waited for free agency. Nonetheless, the Knicks saw an opportunity to land a star and rightfully so, went for it. The following season, Billups, the once-coveted Denver Nugget, was exiled from New York via the amnesty clause.
The aftermath
At first glance, there isn’t a clear winner of which team won the trade. Early on, it looked as if the Knicks front office had a rare glimpse of competence. Now, of course, New York’s goal was met by obtaining a star, not past his prime. However, despite possessing two-star players, -Amar’e Stoudamire signed in the 2011 free agency- New York couldn’t fit the pieces in the long run.
After the overhaul for Anthony, the only thing to show for it was two playoff appearances. Ultimately, the Knicks got what they wanted, but couldn’t fulfill the demands of harboring a franchise player.
Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets stayed afloat with a team built on depth. Denver pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to seven games following the season of the blockbuster trade.
However, there was no roster worthy of a legitimate playoff contender conversation until the 2018-2019 season. In spite of the playoff drought, Denver took advantage of a roster void of a superstar talent, which led to the necessary rebuild.
The departure of Carmelo Anthony expedited the tooth-pulling process of a rebuild in Denver.