I know that sounds pretty cynical and bitter. I am neither of those. I mourn the loss of Chauncey Billups more than anything and what he meant to the Denver community than I mourn the loss of Anthony. Chauncey's class and professionalism made the Nuggets endearing and enjoyable to watch in the post-Iverson era. He's a coach's dream and always put his best foot forward. Every time I drive by George Washington High School, I think of what he's accomplished and was proud to call him a Nugget and a Denverite.

No as to the subject of this post, I can't state it more simply than this. Carmelo's reason for leaving has very little to do with winning rings has he proclaims as it does with him being able to market himself in New York and increase his brand. If he was serious about winning rings, he wouldn't have gone to New York.

New York is a franchise reminiscent of our beloved Nuggets a few years back. They'll have a high scoring, fast paced offense to light up a score board with. They will likely with 45-50 games and end up with a 6 or a 7 seed. They then will proceed to try the same antics against a Boston, Miami or Chicago and get drilled in 4-5 games in the first round. The team lacks size now that they traded their only 7 footer and Galinari, who's a hair under 7 feet.. We will indeed see history repeat itself, and besides, it's New York. They haven't one a championship in 40 years.

The Nuggets and Carmelo did need to part ways and I agree with many this is a good move for Denver. After all, we still have a healthy George Karl, a young up and coming point guard in Ty Lawson, a solid 4 or 5 in Nene (assuming they re-sign him) and tons of draft picks. It should be interesting. I don't see this team languishing in basketball purgatory as they did in the 90's with Bickerstaff, Bristow and Issel. The management seems to be on the same page and Karl has mentioned his desire to retire a Nugget. You couldn't say that about this team 10 years ago.