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Bigger role for his plate

Captaincy, sizable contract for deeds in offing for Anthony

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 24, 2006 at midnight

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Carmelo Anthony is in line to be named team captain. But will that be enough?

The Nuggets star will be looking soon to sign a contract extension, probably for the maximum. With Anthony figuring to have a long career with the Nuggets, he is making it clear he wants to take on a much bigger role than during his three previous seasons.

"This year, we didn't have nobody who wanted to step up to the plate and take the blame for the stuff that was going on in the organization,'' Anthony said Friday, speaking about the tumultuous season the team had, ending with a first- round playoff flameout. "I really think that, me being the face of this organization, if (the media have) anything to say, you ought to just put it all on me. I'll take the blame."

With that, though, the Nuggets might have to make a commitment to Anthony beyond dollars.

Anthony's agent, Calvin Andrews, said his client wants more input in player personnel decisions.

"He wants to be involved," Andrews said. "He understands the league a lot better now. He wants to have a voice . . . (because) he's planning to make a big commitment to the organization for so many years."

Anthony can start negotiations July 1 on a contract that will kick in for the 2007-08 season, and he can sign as soon as July 12. If he doesn't sign by Oct. 31, he will be a restricted free agent next summer.

Andrews said Nuggets officials want to start talking July 1. Andrews said Anthony wants to sign quickly but first wants to hear team officials vow to quickly improve a team that fell apart in the playoffs, losing in five games to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I think the organization knows what they have to do to make this team better and make this team a championship-caliber team," Anthony said. "I don't want to just point one thing out but, obviously, everybody knows we have to get better. . . . We won three games in three years in the playoffs, which is not pretty."

So how much input does Anthony figure to get in reshaping the team?

"We shall find out after the first (of July)," he said. "We shall discuss that."

Discussions also will include money. Anthony looks to be in line for a maximum deal, worth about $79 million over five years.

"If (the Nuggets) don't offer him the maximum, they'd be a fool," Nuggets forward Ruben Patterson said.

That sounds good to Andrews.

"I would say, 'I like Ruben's support as a maximum player,' " Andrews said. "Hopefully, the Nuggets agree with the way Ruben feels."

Anthony, who reiterated Friday he wants to remain in Denver, wouldn't talk money. Andrews said his side doesn't initially plan to propose an amount.

"We'll see what they're going to offer and we'll counter offer," Andrews said.

Anthony is under contract for next season. Nuggets coach George Karl plans to name him captain.

"That's good," Anthony said. "I think I'm ready to take on that role."

He's also ready to take on the role of mediator. Anthony said he's willing to help smooth out the relationship between Karl and forward Kenyon Martin, who was suspended for the remainder of the Clippers series after a Game 2 run-in with Karl.

"I really think that it's going to take somebody to sit both of them down to put this behind them," said Anthony, who hasn't talked to Martin since season's end. "I think they want to do it. They both have egos. . . . Hopefully, they can work it out. . . . If they want me to, if I have to talk to George, if I have to talk to Kenyon one-on-one."

Anthony said Karl and Martin could have handled the situation differently. Anthony wished Martin had handled his knee injury better, saying, "George wanted a little more out of him than Ken- yon was giving."

For now, Anthony is preparing for the World Championships tryouts that begin July 19 in Las Vegas. He also has called Miami's Dwyane Wade, a fellow member of the 2003 draft class, to congratulate him on his NBA title.

Anthony, who insisted he is not jealous of Wade, said Wade's run is motivating him to do more. He sure is ready to take on a bigger role with the Nuggets.

ETC.: Patterson will pick up his $6.8 million player option for next season. "I'll be back," he said . . . Assistant Scott Brooks has left Denver for a three-year deal as Sacramento's lead assistant. "It's a great opportunity to be near my family," said Brooks, from Manteca, Calif. "I've got a long history (with Kings coach Eric Musselman) . . . Nothing against Denver." The Nuggets let Brooks go with a year on his contract and without compensation. Director of player personnel Mark Warkentien said the Nuggets believe "family comes before business." Warkentien said Karl should hire a replacement, but not soon. Assistant Adrian Dantley should coach Denver in the Vegas Summer League . . . NBAdraft.net projects Louis Amundson, formerly of Monarch High School in Louisville and Nevada-Las Vegas, as the No. 30 pick. He has workouts today in Dallas and Sunday in Minnesota after having one Friday in Cleveland.

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