Wherever and whenever Carmelo Anthony lands this season, his trade saga over the last few weeks should serve as a stark reminder that the 2010 “Mad NBA Summer of Free Agency” was a perfect storm. It won’t be replicated in 2011 and may never happen again.
Anthony, of course, was supposed to be the headliner of next summer’s class, but even if he was 2011’s LeBron James, there isn’t exactly a Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to go with him. Tony Parker? Maybe, except he’s already banged-up and 28 years old. Jamal Crawford? Mike Dunleavy? Carl Landry? Shane Battier? Zach Randolph? If you’re looking for Super Friends, this isn’t the Hall of Justice.
Add to the labor uncertainty that already has players and teams scrambling to protect themselves from a lockout year — and the fact that guys like Rudy Gay and Kevin Durant also have locked up long-term deals — and it’ll be years before we see even one of multiple variables required to create “Another Decision.” Unless you can imagine Derrick Rose one day turning his back on Chicago.
