Anthony accepts maximum deal

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 2, 2006 at midnight

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Posted at 10:52 a.m.; Updated at 10:41 p.m.

It's Melo to the max.

Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony on Saturday was offered and accepted a maximum contract extension.

The deal will kick in for the 2007-08 season, and be worth about $79 million over five years. It's the biggest contract ever handed out by the Nuggets in terms of average yearly salary.

"It is a dream come true to be given a max contract," Anthony said in a statement. "The feeling is incredible and my motivation is at an all-time high."

Saturday was first day NBA teams could talk to free agents or to players about contract extensions. Anthony should sign his deal July 12, the first day allowed.

Anthony's agent, Calvin Andrews got the offer in a 10 a.m. call from Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentien, and it was immediately accepted.

"We're happy," Andrews said. "We kind of expected this? Carmelo is excited."

Anthony is locked up with Denver through 2012, when he is 28. Anthony could have a player option in the fifth year of his new deal, which Andrews said he would like but has not been determined.

"I can publicly confirm that we are engaged in negotiations with Carmelo," Warkentien said. "I can confirm we intend to enter into a player contract with Carmelo once the moratorium period ends (July 11)."

Per NBA rules, Warkentien said he could not comment further.

Anthony's big deal was no surprise. Andrews told the Rocky Mountain News before the season it would be a "no-brainer" Anthony would get the maximum if he has the "season that we expect." All Anthony did was average 26.5 points and be named to the All-NBA third team, the first Nuggets player to be so honored in seven years.

Nuggets coach George Karl told the News last weekend he anticipated Anthony would get an offer for the maximum and it would be a quick negotiation.

It was.

"First and foremost, I want to thank (Nuggets owner) Stan Kroenke for showing such a strong commitment to me," Anthony said in the statement. "It has been tremendous playing under his ownership.

"I want to take on a greater leadership role with this team and my goal remains win to win the Nuggets fans a championship. I look forward to being in Denver for a long time."

Karl expects to name Anthony team captain next season. While Karl can't talk about Anthony's deal until he signs, he spoke Saturday about Anthony's increasing leadership role.

"Carmelo has been fantastic for us," Karl said. "He is a very special talent. As he continues to grow and mature, he is going to have to take on more of a leadership role with this team. I'm a big believer that a leader leads by his actions as much if not more so than his words."

As part of his increased role, Anthony wants to have a bigger say in team personnel matters. He is expected to get that.

Andrews said Anthony met June 21 with Warkentien, and much headway was made in that area. Andrews expects Anthony to be consulted during the team's ongoing free-agency process.

"Melo feels very comfortable in that process, and we're shaping it," Andrews said of Anthony's increased role. "We're still having conversations? They're putting the money up for him. He's no longer a rookie. He's a veteran leader."

Anthony, who is under contract next season for $4.7 million, has averaged 22.8 points in three seasons since between taken with the No. 3 pick out of Syracuse in 2003. His representatives said no thought was given of Anthony going elsewhere.

"This is a great day," said Bill Duffy, president of BDA Sports Management, which represents Anthony. "He's ecstatic. He's ready to take the team to another level."

Anthony hosted a three-on-three tournament Saturday in his hometown of Baltimore. He will return to Denver tonight, and on Monday will be at Fort Carson to greet troops in an NBA event.

Also on hand will be former Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe and Hall of Famer Rick Barry. The Larry O'Brien Trophy, which most recently went to the Miami Heat for winning the NBA title, will be on display.

"He's going to show his support for the troops and give them a morale boost," Andrews said.

Some may ask for a loan.

The NBA will not know the exact value of Anthony's deal until the 2007-08 salary cap is determined next July. Using a $52 million cap, Anthony, who can receive 25 percent of the cap, would start his new deal at $13 million.

Anthony will get 10.5 percent raises, based on the first year of the deal. If his contract starts at $13 million, the overall value would be $78.6 million.

Under NBA rules, Anthony can get an opt-out clause after the fourth year of his new deal. Under that scenario, he likely would be able to sign for more money in the fifth year.

"Of course, we would like that," Andrews said of having 2011-12 be a player option. "But we still have some things to iron out with the deal."

Barring any last-minute hitches, Andrews said Anthony will sign July 12.

At an average of about $16 per season, it's will be the biggest deal the Nuggets have handed out in terms of average yearly salary. In terms of total money, it will be the second-biggest deal, trailing only the seven-year, $92.5 million contract Kenyon Martin got in a sign-and-trade in 2004.

Anthony has overcome some struggles from earlier in his NBA career. During his second season, he showed up in a bootleg DVD in which a man threatened to kill and a bag of marijuana was found in his backpack at the airport, although the bag was later determined to have belonged to a friend.

"We're thankful that the team has made such a commitment to him with this offer," Andrews said. "He's extremely motivated to give the team all that he can."

Just call him maximum Melo.

tomassonc@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5125

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