If you were the Nuggets GM, what would you have done?

So the NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and the long nightmare in Denver is finally over.

Goodbye Carmelo.  I’m not sure how badly you’ll be missed.  What I do know is that He Who Talked His Way Out of Denver won’t be missed as much as point guard Chauncey Billups will.  Even though Chauncey’s return to Denver was significantly shorter than Carmelo’s entire stay, Billups had a significantly greater effect on Denver as a whole.  He had played his college ball at the University of Colorado, and his presence as a team leader won’t be readily replaced.

Let’s face it, Denver had no choice but to move Anthony.  Carmelo wanted out of Denver and the fact that the Nuggets received anything in return for Melo is significant.  Only because Miami and Cleveland worked out a sign-and-trade maximum deal for LeBron James last summer, the Cavaliers received several draft picks, but there was the distinct possibility that Cleveland would receive nothing when James left.

Had Denver held on to Melo for the remainder of the 2010-11 season, they likely would have received next to nothing for Carmelo under the new collective bargaining agreement.  Who knows if any of the players (current players and future draft picks involved in the deal) will pan out for the Nuggets, but at least they got a few cents on the dollar.

Thankfully I’m now done talking about the NBA.