Melo's plans to include Beijing

Official: Anthony will be named to Olympic team

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 13, 2008 at 4:03 p.m.

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Photo by Joe Mahoney / The Rocky

Carmelo Anthony was the leading scorer for Team USA during the 2006 World Championships.

Carmelo Anthony is again heading to the Olympics.

But which Anthony will show up?

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball managing director, confirmed Friday that the Nuggets forward will be among 12 players selected later this month to play in Beijing.

"Yes, he will be," Colangelo said of Anthony, who played sparingly in the 2004 Olympics.

Colangelo, who told the Rocky Mountain News in December that Anthony was all but a lock for Beijing, is hoping the Anthony in the Olympics will be the same one who has been perhaps Team USA's top player the past two summers.

"In the last year, I thought he took a half-step back," Colangelo said. "I have no idea why, but obviously, I've read the reports about how he might be traded and about some of the little things that have gone on. But there's a lot of stuff I'm not (privy) to.

"But we need to establish Carmelo as the same guy that we had the last two summers. I want to put his last NBA season behind him."

Anthony's scoring average last season dropped from 28.9 to 25.7. In April, Anthony was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, but Colangelo said he knows Anthony realizes he made a "mistake."

Colangelo wants to talk soon with Anthony, who will be in Las Vegas for a June 27-28 minicamp involving the 12 players selected.

"We need him to be totally focused this summer," Colangelo said of Anthony, Team USA's leading scorer in the 2006 World Championships and the Olympic qualifying tournament last summer.

“I don’t feel like I took a half-step back on the court, maybe off the court,” Anthony said through a Nuggets official. “I’m very excited about representing my country, my team, my family, and my fans in this year’s Olympics. I (have) been waiting on this opportunity for four years. Mr. Colangelo, you have nothing to be worried about because I’m ready."

Colangelo had hoped to speak with Anthony on Wednesday in Chicago, when Anthony, Cleveland's LeBron James and New Orleans' Chris Paul were scheduled to be on hand for a workout with Miami's Dwyane Wade. But Colangelo said Anthony ended up getting to Chicago for workouts the next day, after Colangelo had left.

Colangelo went to Chicago to see how Wade was looking after having missed the last month of the season because of a left knee injury. While Colangelo wouldn't confirm it, indications are Wade will be on the team.

"He looks good," said Colangelo, who said Wade worked out with several NBA players, including Antoine Walker and Quentin Richardson. "He's come back a long way. . . . I saw explosiveness. . . . Tim Grover (the trainer working with Wade) said he's about 8 or 9 now on a scale of 1 to 10 and should be much further along by July 20 (when Team USA starts camp in Las Vegas)."

Colangelo originally had planned for the June minicamp to be a final tryout but changed his mind because coaches believed it would be more beneficial if the roster was known by then. So Colangelo said the team most likely will be announced early the week of June 22.

Detroit's Chauncey Billups, a Denver native, is among four point guards (the others being Paul, New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Utah's Deron Williams) vying for three likely spots. Colangelo wouldn't speculate on Billups' chances.

"I haven't seen Chauncey lately," Colangelo said of Billups, who was bothered by a hamstring strain in the playoffs. "He's one of the players that we're considering."

The final roster must be submitted to Olympic officials July 1. If an injury occurs after that, a change could be made before Team USA's first game, Aug. 10 against China.

For the July camp, Colangelo said he also will bring to Las Vegas 10 to 12 prospects for future teams. He's not sure if one or two alternates might travel to Asia in the event there is an injury.

ETC.: Nuggets coach George Karl believes the more likely scenario is North Carolina guard Ty Lawson, who worked out with the Nuggets on Tuesday, will choose to return to school for his junior year by the deadline Monday. Lawson, 20, was arrested June 6 and charged with driving after consuming alcohol. . . . Nuggets center Marcus Camby will conduct a camp July 21-25 at Denver East High School. Information is at cambyland.com.

• June 13, 2008

  5:05 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BMat writes:

  Perfect fit!

  There's no "D" in Carmello and there's no "D" in The Olympics.

• June 13, 2008

  7:08 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  NeilT writes:

  Hey kids!

  You too can be an Olympic star!

  Melos' three step program to Olympic fame.

  Step one: Get caught with dope
  Step two: Drink
  Step three: Drive

• June 13, 2008

  10:09 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Gean writes:

  ^^ lol at these two "fans"

  Melo rules, with him starting at Forward we've got a guaranteed Gold Medal!

• June 13, 2008

  10:27 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  American100 writes:

  He won't be able to pass the drug test.

• June 14, 2008

  9:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  nmbronco1 writes:

  Just love the way the "hometown fans" bash Carmelo - NOT. The dude is just now turning 24 - anyone else ever have a DUI before 24? Melo is on the Olympic team because he has one of the best overall skill sets of any player in the USA. The coaches know this - why is it so hard for local "fans" to see this? I hope all of you have to eat crow when Anthony brings his gold medal back to Denver.

• June 14, 2008

  12:43 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  NeilT writes:

  Where did I state I was a fan?

  Many a man has had to step-up to many challenges at a young age. The vast majority of us were not blessed with the talent Melo holds. We sure as hell didn't have the bank balance he has.

  Of course I want Americans winning all the golds. I don't care if Melo contributes to that goal.

  I'll eat crow if he actually grows up and takes responsibility for his position on the team and in society.

  How many times has he held a press conference to say he would grow up and be a man?

  You're right about his talent, though. He needs to add leadership to that talent. I'll be a fan when he figures that out.

  The crows will have to watch their backs then.

  Yum....

  Crow Burger
  Crow Salad
  Crow Stew
  Crow Casserole
  Crow Kabob...

  I've never had a DUI, by the way.

• June 14, 2008

  6:47 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  plateepus636 writes:

  Jason Kidd plays for Dallas...not New Jersey...

• June 15, 2008

  10:43 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  HE5t writes:

  Carmelo will have no trouble passing the drug test, dummy

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