Carmelo Anthony Traded To Knicks As Part Of Blockbuster, 12-Player Deal

Carmelo Anthony Press Conference: Trade To Knicks Was 'Dream Come True'

Carmelo Anthony was just introduced as a member of the New York Knicks in a press conference before the team's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was introduced along with Chauncey Billups and team owner James Dolan, in front of a mob of media members. Anthony's smile beamed as he said multiple times that the trade was a "dream come true."

"I felt like I was still coming in just for a shootaround for an opposing team. It didn't sink it that I'm a New York Knick," Anthony said. "It's a dream come true for me."

The press conference was a strange one at times, one that's par for the course with the Knicks. Before Anthony spoke, Dolan took the podium to shoot down suggestions that former general manager Isiah Thomas orchestrated the trade, against the wishes of president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni. 

"Donnie, Mike, and I were completely coordinated on this process from start to finish.  The idea that we were not in complete agreement is not true," Dolan said. "While Isiah Thomas is a very good friend of mine, he was not at all involved in this process. He wasn't advising me or telling me what to do in any way, and any reports that indicated that are simply untrue and fiction in their mind."

Dolan also, curiously, gave special reference to Anthony's agent Leon Rose and wife LaLa Vasquez. An extended photo session followed, with Amar'e Stoudemire crashing the stage to jump into shots with Anthony and Billups.

Anthony said he would have likely signed with the Knicks in free agency, but the prospect of a new collective bargaining agreement complicated matters. He said he talked to his family and mutually decided that New York was where he wanted to be.

"I'm just glad that it's over with. My mind was everywhere, but at the end of the day. I was still able to focus in and play basketball," he said. "The decision I made is based on myself and my family. When I sat down with my family and made this collective decision, New York was a place to bring my talent."

Anthony pledged to sacrifice scoring to help the team, saying defense was his "focus" and that he didn't need to score "20-30 points" every night because of the presence of Amar'e Stoudemire. He scoffed at the suggestion that the Knicks gave up too much to get him, saying that "I'm pretty sure that if any of you are GMs, you'd want me and Amare on the same team too."

Billups, meanwhile, was much more subdued and admitted that he has to leave home in Denver. However, he also said he was "excited for this challenge" and that he "knew how badly [Anthony] wanted this to happen."

Carmelo Anthony Trade Not Enough For Knicks, Projections Show

The New York Knicks traded for Carmelo Anthony, and all was well. Except, perhaps, the fact that the acquisition may not help the Knicks get out of the first round of the playoffs this year or next. Nate Silver of the New York Times' Five Thirty Eight politics blog dug into the numbers to show that the Knicks, as currently built, should win about 51 games a year. But Anthony's salary, paired with that of co-star Amar'e Stoudemire, could limit the team's ability to add much in the next couple offseasons. And, as it were, 51 wins, while great given the Knicks' recent history, isn't NBA Finals material.

[O]ne thing the Knicks will not have is a whole lot of flexibility to improve their roster further. The $62 million that they will owe to these nine players is close to the $58 million salary cap from this season - and that cap may well decrease if and when the league and its players sign a new collective-bargaining agreement this summer. Nor, other than [Landry] Fields - who would be hard to improve upon from an efficiency standpoint - do the Knicks have much in the way of either draft picks or appealing young players, since they traded so many away in the deals with Denver and Minnesota.

The Knicks have been looking toward 2012 for the team's next coup, as Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard could all be free agents at that point. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has guaranteed that his team will have cap space heading into that summer, which is an incredible claim to make considering no one knows how the collective bargaining agreement will shake out.

Beyond the specific Knicks analysis, Silver's post is well worth reading for the intuitive but insightful definition of a superstar.

George Karl, Nuggets Sad To See Chauncey Billups Go

For the Denver Nuggets, losing Carmelo Anthony — the team’s superstar and biggest draw — was tough, but it was the loss of another player that stung the most. Chauncey Billups, tied to Anthony as part of the mega-trade that put 12 players in motion on Monday night, was a hometown hero in Denver, leaving head coach George Karl and many Nuggets players sad about his departure on Tuesday.

For Karl, it was about Billups more than Anthony. Billups held a prominent role with the team, mentoring the younger players as a leader for the Nuggets.

“I can’t deny that when the trade went down last night, I was kind of more sad than happy,” Karl said after his team’s short-handed shootaround Tuesday. “I think most of that sadness was because of Chauncey — and A.C. a little bit, too.”

With Billups gone, Ty Lawson will assume the point guard duties, attempting to fill the void the trade left the Nuggets with. Though Denver is in the midst of a major roster overhaul, losing its two biggest stars, Karl and the team were still optimistic about their chances to make a postseason run. Karl was adamant the team was reloading rather than rebuilding with the trade that left Denver with just nine eligible players in practice on Tuesday.

For more on the deal, check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream. To connect with Nuggets fans, check out SB Nation’s Denver Stiffs.

Amare Stoudemire, LeBron James Praise Carmelo Anthony Trade

The Carmelo Anthony mega-trade wouldn’t be complete unless a few of the NBA’s biggest stars chimed in to offer opinions on the deal that will send Anthony to New York to play alongside Amare Stoudemire. Both LeBron James and Stoudemire praised the trade on Tuesday, with Stoudemire happy to have Anthony in New York and James glad the Knicks appear to be on the way up.

James took it as a compliment that the Knicks appear to be building a roster to compete with the Heat while also saying a relevant New York team is good for the league.

“I think it is great for the NBA, the Knicks are back,” James said of the trade. “The other teams are trying to compete [with the Heat] and I think that is great.”

The irony of James, who was courted by the Knicks this past summer, speaking about having the Knicks on the way up is almost too good to be true.

For Stoudemire, the addition of Anthony helps alleviate some of the scoring burden from his shoulders, giving the Knicks a solid scoring tandem going forward. It’s better than a one-two punch, he says, and will create matchup problems for the team’s opponents.

“Every team needs a 1, 1A punch,” Stoudemire said. “And so with the ways that we both can score … we’re very versatile, so it’s hard to guard us.”

It remains to be seen if the Knicks are ready to challenge some of the Eastern Conference’s elite, but picking up Anthony, no matter the price, is a step in the right direction. Anthony will make his debut against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night amid hoopla that’s reached astonishing heights. The Knicks will reportedly roll out a fresh lineup on Wednesday, with Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields and Ronny Turiaf joining Anthony and Stoudemire.

For more on the deal, check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream.

Carmelo Anthony To Make Knicks Debut Wednesday With Ronny Turiaf In Starting Lineup

Carmelo Anthony’s first game as a member of the New York Knicks will be Wednesday night’s against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to New York Daily News’ Frank Isola. All players have reportedly passes physicals and so forth. That game is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET and will be shown on NBA League Pass unless somebody decides to upgrade its coverage.

Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said his starting lineup for that game and moving forward will be Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields, and Ronny Turiaf. Donnie Walsh seems the least satisfied with Turiaf’s presence in that lineup, adding the Knicks are interesting in acquiring a center before the trade deadline.

Turiaf has started about a dozen games this season, near the same number as started by the departed Timofey Mozgov. He’s in his first year with the Knicks, averaging about 18 minutes and five points per game.

Carmelo Anthony Will Wear No. 7 With The New York Knicks, According To Report

Now that Carmelo Anthony has been traded to the New York Knicks, the immediate question is this: what jersey number will he wear. Anthony wore No. 15 with the Nuggets, but that number has been retired by the Knicks for Earl Monroe and Dick McGuire. Therefore, Anthony will change numbers and wear No. 7, according to a report by CNBC's Darren Rovell. 

Breaking: Carmelo Anthony has requested to wear #7 for the Knicks.    

There was talk that Anthony would wear No. 13, but in the end, it appears he has decided on No. 7. Anthony wore No. 22 in high school, but that number has also been retired for Dave DeBusschere. There was talk that Anthony might wear No. 30 (15 x 2), which is what Knicks legend Bernard King wore, but that also never came to be. Instead, it'll be No. 7.

The last Knicks player to wear No. 7 was Al Harrington, who signed with Anthony's former team, the Nuggets, last summer. Other Knicks players to wear No. 7 include Gerald Henderson, Kenny Walker and Channing Frye. 

Anthony Randolph Trade To Timberwolves Sounds Familiar

Anthony Randolph was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves as a part of Monday's wondrous Carmelo Anthony blockbuster. The New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets needed help from a team under the cap to facilitate the 'Melo swap, and as a thank you for their service to Spike Lee and country, the Wolves earned Randolph, the enigmatic third-year forward who alternately looks like a player poised to win the MVP and break down crying at midcourt.

Of course, the Wolves also gave up a disappointing lottery pick, Corey Brewer, and took on the massive expiring contract of Eddy Curry. (And, well, the massive Eddy Curry, too.) Canis Hoopus has done the math, and it comes out a wash; the Wolves paid about $300,000 in the deal when you consider that the Knicks sent Minnesota $3 million cash (the maximum allowable under league rules) and that we're 50 games or so into the season. The trade does hurt the Wolves' ability to make additional moves, though Minnesota has a large trade exception available thanks (thanks?) to the Al Jefferson trade.

Either way, the Wolves expect something out of Randolph. Data from A.R.'s start-and-stop career indicates Minnesota could be in luck. Stop-n-Pop of Canis Hoopus is hopeful.

It could also be a good example of what types of players actually possess high-level (and here's that word again) potential. Think of player development like evolution and natural selection. Players at this level are only able to develop with the skills and tools they already have. Wanting Wes Johnson to develop into a slashing, high-usage modern shooting guard is like wishing for a turtle to develop a 5th leg. Sorry, he just doesn't have the existing systems to make that dream happen. On the other hand, Anthony Randolph has the types of tools that could make for an extremely high level player. Elite size, athleticism, handle, an ability to get to the line, rebounding, and shot blocking. These are things that can evolve into the upper levels of the NBA while giving the Wolves a player type they don't currently have. This evolution is highly dependent on two things: Randolph's head (he's had some drive/motivation/whatever issues over his 3 years in the league) and the Wolves' player development. You know, his environment.

Will Randolph become anything more than another cast member in David Kahn's Island of Misfit Lottery Picks? The evidence is surprisingly positive, but the narrative is left to be played out.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Solicits Mixed Emotions From New York Knicks Fans

The New York Knicks finally have Carmelo Anthony, a player they have been pining for since his wedding in June. So, why exactly are fans unsure of the whole arrangement? Why are Knicks fans not embracing 'Melo in all of his 'Melo-y goodness? As the wonderful Seth Rosenthal of Posting And Toasting outlines, it's because the trade negotiatons and final result harken back to the days of He Who Must Not Be Named, Isiah Thomas.

In a thoughtful post on a personal reaction to the trade, Rosenthal explains why a certain section of the Knicks' rabid fan base preferred the team's existent blueprint -- build smart -- over Isiah's old way of acquire-acquire-acquire-sell-sell-sell.

We just wanted something to hold onto. After a few years to trim the fat and swap out parts (some of which were difficult, but necessary, to part with), Donnie Walsh gave us just that. A team with Amar'e as the head and Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, and Danilo Gallinari as the menacing octopus arms wasn't going to win the championship this season, but that was almost beside the point. It was OURS and it felt like the start of something. The Knicks, ever the moving target, were finally a fully-formed mass of likable, talented characters who we could dress up and groom and pose in different positions without worrying that they would be snatched away.

And then they were. This most recent move- swapping two homegrown talents, one promising rookie, and one free agent acquisition who fit right in for a big-name star- reeks of meddling by James Dolan and, yeah, Isiah Thomas. If you take this as a sign that those two are ready to overthrow Walsh, then I don't know what to tell you. I choose to suppress that conspiracy theory because I like sleeping at night, but I can't really dismiss it.

The backlash in New York has little if nothing to do with Carmelo himself. It's all about what this specific trade for Carmelo means for the fate of the franchise.

Carmelo Anthony To Knicks Trade Involves 12 Players, Three Teams: A Full Breakdown

Carmelo Anthony was but one player in the blockbuster three-team trade executed Monday by the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves. A total of 12 players, three draft picks and $6 million in cash changed hands. Here's a full breakdown of what each team is getting.

KNICKS RECEIVE

Carmelo Anthony. The four-time All-Star is the marquee name in this trade, and the new marquee name in New York. Anthony's trade saga lasted 202 days, but resulted in what he wanted all along: to be in New York. There's serious debate as to whether 'Melo is even one of the best 15 players in the league. Regardless of that, and the fact that he won't help New York's serious defensive problems, he's a huge name, and a marketing coup for the Knicks.

Chauncey Billups. The 13-year veteran replaces Raymond Felton in New York, where he'll pass a little less and shoot a little more. Billups has become a bit of a wise sidekick to 'Melo, and we'll see how his combo-guard styled game suits Amar'e Stoudemire. See more on Chauncey Billups' impact on the Knicks.

Corey Brewer. The fourth-year wing might be traded again before the deadline. If not, he'll be one of the few defenders on the Knicks' roster. See more on Corey Brewer's future.

Renaldo Balkman. Balkman was originally a Knicks draft pick in 2006, which makes it only fitting that Isiah Thomas was reportedly involved in bringing him back. Balkman played sparingly in Denver, and it's unclear whether that will change in New York. See more on Balkman's return.

Shelden Williams. Williams, a former No. 5 pick out of Duke, has bounced around the NBA since 2005, making his way as a rebounding and defensive specialist. Will Mike D'Antoni ever use him? We'll see.

Anthony Carter. Carter is in this deal solely for salary reasons, though New York could use some depth at point guard. But if you're playing Carter any substantial minutes at this point, you're in trouble.

NUGGETS RECEIVE

Danilo Gallinari. The Knicks' 2008 lottery pick -- the first of Donnie Walsh's New York tenure and long seen as D'Antoni's chosen star -- will move across the country to attempt to replace 'Melo. Good luck. Gallinari is much more of a shooter than Anthony, but is (if you can believe it) a worse defender and rebounder. See more on what Gallinari offers the Nuggets.

Wilson Chandler. Chandler was a Knick before Walsh and D'Antoni arrived, and existed in an odd suspended state over the years. He looks to find his NBA destiny in Denver, or wherever he lands in free agency. See more on Chandler.

Timofey Mozgov. The Russian rookie was a last-minute sticking point in the trade negotiations, but Denver managed to pry his four points and three rebounds a game from the Knicks. Will he have a major role in Denver with Nene and Chris Andersen in place?

Raymond Felton. Just months ago, Felton was getting legit push for an All-Star spot. So much for that. Felton went into a prolonged shooting slump, and eventually became trade bait in the 'Melo derby. He looks to rent the starting point guard spot in Denver until Ty Lawson is ready to take over. But once that happens, plenty of teams will look to add Felton's solid play. See more on Felton.

Knicks' 2014 first-round pick. Who knows how valuable this will be once 2014 comes around. No one! That's who!

Two second-round picks. These are like the free samples a coffee shop hands out. "Thanks, I guess."

$3 million cash. The Knicks hand out cash like it's ... a free sample at a coffee shop.

TIMBERWOLVES RECEIVE

Anthony Randolph. The enigmatic forward seemed like a perfect fit in New York, until D'Antoni decided to never ever play him. Minnesota adds to its reputation as the Island of Misfit Lottery Picks; Randolph will back up Kevin Love and Michael Beasley at the forward spots. See more on Randolph.

Eddy Curry. Curry was included in this deal only for his expiring contract, which the Wolves will absorb as the price of Randolph. If the Wolves reach a buy-out with Curry, it's only to save a buck. No team is going to sign Curry right now.

$3 million cash. Ching ching.

Renaldo Balkman Traded Back To Knicks, Where He Might Actually Matter Again

Renaldo Balkman was, by all accounts, included in the Carmelo Anthony trade only as a sweetener for the Denver Nuggets. That's a bit opposite to the common definition of a "trade sweetener," as the term usually refers to an asset that makes something toxic a bit easier to swallow. But Balkman went from the Nuggets to the New York Knicks. So how does he sweeten the deal for Denver? The Nuggets wanted to get out from under his small but annoying contract; he's due $5 million through 2012-13.

That's peanuts in today's NBA; heck, the Knicks sent out more than that in cash -- $6 million split between the Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves -- in Monday's trade. But every dollar matters when it comes to the luxury tax, and by including Balkman, Denver snuck under the threshold. The Nuggets will now not owe any luxury tax, and will receive the pay-out from those teams who do.

On the court, Balkman produced next to nothing for the Nuggets; he simply wasn't afford an opportunity for minutes over the past season and a half. Balkman has played all of 135 minutes since signing his three-year extension in the summer of 2009; that extension didn't go into effect until this season, as Balkman remained on his rookie deal in 2009-10. In the last season and a half, Balman has scored a grand total of 27 points, or roughly what each of 'Melo and Amar'e Stoudemire average per game.

But opportunity could await in New York. Balkman was actually useful as a Knick after Isiah Thomas infamously made the South Carolina product the No. 20 pick in 2006; he's reputed as a solid defender and fleet of foot in the open court. But his opportunity in New York may have more to do with roster holes. The Knicks, remember, traded half their roster. That's not an exaggeration -- four players went to Denver, and two more went to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Balkman is one of the few (other than 'Melo) returning to the Knicks who can play both forward position, where the loss of Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler will hurt the most. Losing Timofey Mozgov also means Stoudemire will likely play more center, leaving a forward hole.

Corey Brewer, picked up from the Wolves, should get dibs on small forward minutes behind 'Melo unless he's traded. Landry Fields and Shawne Williams will share minutes at shooting guard, and will also fight for scraps behind 'Melo. But Balkman's versatility and defense, the latter in incredibly short supply in New York, could come in handy. At the very least, you'd expect he'd play more in New York than Denver, given that you can't play less than "never."

Wilson Chandler Remains Lost Soul After Trade To Nuggets

Wilson Chandler was one of the four players sent to the Denver Nuggets in Monday's Carmelo Anthony blockbuster trade. Without question, he is the player of least renown, and was the only trade chip no one has ever shrieked about. If the Knicks were to acquire anyone of value, it was has long been accepted that Chandler would go, for he didn't really fit the Knicks' plan.

On the court, he was a great fit for Mike D'Antoni's offense, though perhaps the fact that he carried the team through the lean pre-Amar'e Stoudemire years is more an indictment of the Knicks' bad roster than Chandler's specific talents. Chandler was able to play power forward through shooting guard, owing to solid size and a decent ability to rebound as well as a complete lack of conscience from behind the arc. Chandler took five three-pointers per 36 minutes this season, often from the power forward spot. That's D'Antoni to a tee, but Chandler and cohort Danilo Gallinari just weren't deadly enough to make the Knicks great.

Of course, the lack of a center -- or Stoudemire's inability to defend big men, depending on how you look at it -- and poor backcourt shooting helped determine the Knicks' quality as much as Chandler's sub-star production did. But that's the classification that's sussed out when you consider Chandler from 10,000 feet: he's the perfect D'Antoni player, but not quite good enough to be a key cog in a great team.

The Nuggets will hope to reverse that. It would appear Chandler is destined to come off the bench, unless Denver moves Gallinari in the days to come. In Denver, assuming J.R. Smith sticks around (which is a wild assumption to make), Chandler won't be the designated gunner off the bench. George Karl will expect more, and it's not clear Chandler is capable of much more.

He'll be a restricted free agent this summer, one who doesn't figure to break the bank for any team. As such, time is of the essence and Chandler has to make quick repairs to his reputation. In all this trade hubbub, the values of Raymond Felton, Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov never fell; their inclusion in the 'Melo deal was whinged at (to varying levels). That's an amazing thing for a player's reputation, and Chandler may very well learn that this summer ... if he can't reverse the dip in Denver.

Anthony Randolph Traded To Timberwolves, Adding Depth In Minnesota

Anthony Randolph found himself inserted into the Carmelo Anthony trade drama on Monday, becoming part of a trade that saw a plethora of players put in motion between three teams. Randolph is set to join teammate Eddy Curry in Minnesota as part of the mega-deal as the Knicks traded for Corey Brewer while building a package to secure Anthony.

In Minnesota, Randolph, a third-year power forward out of LSU, gets a fresh start and a chance to see more playing time after spending most of the year on the bench in New York. With the depth in the front-court, and Amare Stoudemire as the focal-point of the offense, there was little room for Randolph, making him expendable as the Knicks sold the farm to secure Anthony.

This season, Randolph has appeared in just 17 games for the Knicks, registering 2.1 points and 2.3 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game. After averaging just over 11 points per game with the Golden State Warriors last season, the change of scenery didn't do Randolph any good as he wasted away on the bench. Though the situation isn't much better in Minnesota -- Kevin Love has a firm grip on the power forward spot -- Randolph may have a chance to prove himself, and at least earn an increase in minutes with the Timberwolves.

For more on the deal, check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream. To connect with Timberwolves fans, check out SB Nation's Canis Hoopus.

Eddy Curry Traded To Timberwolves As Knicks Unload Contracts

It's hard to see Eddy Curry as anything more than a contract dump as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade. The Knicks, as part of a three-team deal with the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, built a trade around Anthony, dumping Curry and Anthony Randolph on the Timberwolves for Corey Brewer. With Amare Stoudemire holding down the center spot, there was little need for Curry, who's been a disappointment over the last two seasons in New York while playing just 10 games total.

In Minnesota, Curry gets a fresh start, though it's unlikely he makes any kind of impact either now or in the future. The 2010-2011 season marks the final year of his contract and the Timberwolves have little need for the center. Set to make just over $11 million over the rest of the season, Curry instantly becomes Minnesota's biggest contract problem, more than doubling the next highest earner.

In just seven games, Curry is averaging 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game. Last season, Curry appeared in just three games, barely registering any statistics of note. In fact, he hasn't been relevant at all in New York since the 2007-2008 season, his third year in New York.

For more on the deal, check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream. To connect with Timberwolves fans, check out Canis Hoopus.

Timofey Mozgov Traded To Nuggets, Becomes Key In Carmelo Anthony Deal After Much Haggling

It was the most unlikely player that had the potential to stall the Carmelo Anthony trade on Monday night. With all the rest of the pieces in place, Timofey Mozgov became a sticking point. The Denver Nuggets wanted him, the New York Knicks weren't ready to give him up and, for a moment, talks hit a stand-still.

Shortly thereafter, though, Mozgov was added to the fold, shipped off to Denver as Anthony and others were traded to New York. But why the big fuss over Mozgov. As mentioned earlier, he's averaging four points and three rebounds in 13 minutes per game. It wouldn't appear he'd be that big of a deal to be any more than a throw-in.

According to Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski, Mozgov became part of the trade because of the relationship between his agent and Denver general manager Masai Ujiri.

Key element of Denver's pursuit of Mozgov is close relationship between GM Masai Ujiri and center's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, sources say.

With all the activity surrounding Anthony, and the various hands in the kitchen working on the deal, this should come as little surprise. On the New York side, it was reported general manager Donnie Walsh was overruled by those above his head. On the Denver side, it appears Ujiri's relationship with Mozgov's agent gave him an inside track, or perhaps gave him enough knowledge to feel comfortable pursuing the rookie center heavily.

For more on the deal, check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream.

Raymond Felton Traded To Nuggets, Adding Depth At Point Guard Spot

Raymond Felton may find himself in a tough spot after being traded from the New York Knicks to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Felton had the run of the team in New York, but now heads to Denver to battle second-year point guard Ty Lawson for playing time. It all shook out as the Carmelo Anthony mega-trade was finalized, with the Nuggets, Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves swapping a wide-variety of players to make the deal work.

Felton is averaging 17.1 points and nine assists per game playing the bulk of the minutes for the Knicks this season. Lawson, playing in a backup role with the Nuggets, is averaging 10.4 points and 3.7 assists per game.

It's unknown which of the two will take the starters role as the trade pieces enter the fray, but the Nuggets boosted their depth at the point guard spot with the move while also getting younger. Instead of Billups, a 13-year veteran, and Lawson, a second-year man, Denver now has youth on its side, with Felton boasting five-plus years of experience.

Denver secured a haul for Anthony and Felton's experience at the point guard spot should make an immediate impact for the Nuggets.

For more on the deal, check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream.

Chauncey Billups Traded To Knicks As Sidekick To Carmelo Anthony

Chauncey Billups, a 13-year NBA veteran, is heading to New York as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade between the Knicks, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. From the start, it appeared Chauncey Billups was destined to join Anthony wherever he landed and on Monday night that was the case as Billups, Anthony and others were traded to the New York Knicks for a haul of players and picks.

Billups and Anthony bring a built-in rapport to New York having spent much of the last three seasons together in Denver. The Knicks, undertaking a drastic roster overhaul with the deal, can use Billups' veteran presence and that stability, though the roster is clearly formed around Amare Stoudemire and Anthony.

This season, Billups is averaging 16.5 points and 5.3 assists per game in 51 appearances, right on par with his career marks. Billups is hitting at a 43.8 percent clip from the field and a career-high 44.1 percent from three-point range in 2010, as well.

With Raymond Felton heading to Denver as part of the trade, Billups has the point guard spot all to himself in New York, orchestrating an offense that features a tremendous inside-out threat in Anthony and Stoudemire.

For more on the deal, check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream. To connect with Knicks fans, check out Posting And Toasting.

Following Carmelo Anthony-To-Knicks Trade, Nene Becomes Nuggets' Next Concern

With the Denver Nuggets having traded Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and others to the New York Knicks in a blockbuster deal executed late Monday, the Nuggets are clearly looking to the future. 'Melo was in trade rumors precisely because the Nuggets didn't want to lose him for nothing; Denver saw what happened to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors when LeBron James and Chris Bosh left those respective franchises last summer and made sure Anthony wouldn't be lost with no return.

It's always been about the future for the Nuggets, and a package with three young players (Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov) and a rising veteran (Raymond Felton) -- all on short and relatively inexpensive contracts -- nods to that. But Denver still has some potential free agents who are older and more expensive. The biggest name among them is Nene.

The 28-year-old Brazilian center can and likely will become an unrestricted free agent at season's end. While losing Nene for nothing wouldn't be quite the hit losing a player like 'Melo would have been, the Nuggets would still like to either ensure he'll be retained or ensure his departure returns an asset. Nene is, after all, the team's best or second-best player, depending on what you think of Gallinari.

As such, it's of little surprise that ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported early Tuesday that the Nuggets sought to sign Nene to an extension quickly after finalizing the 'Melo blockbuster. It remains plausible that if the team can't reach an extension agreement, Denver could put Nene on the block.

If Nene is on the market, the Houston Rockets have repeatedly been linked to the center. Reports also suggest the Rockets want to be active at the deadline, swinging a trade to help the franchise's playoff push, which because of the Nuggets' trade might get easier. But thanks to the protracted nature of the 'Melo bidding, there's precious little time for a deal to get done. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at 3 PM Eastern.

Danilo Gallinari To Nuggets Trade Gives George Karl Awesome Firepower

Danilo Gallinari, traded to the Denver Nuggets in Monday's Carmelo Anthony blockbuster with the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves, replaces the franchise's undisputed star of the past seven-plus seasons. Since coming to the Nuggets in 2003 as the No. 3 pick in the greatest draft in decades, 'Melo has been among the league's very best scorers. What he has lacked in playmaking for teammates, defense and shooting efficiency, he has made up for with buckets and buckets of points. Nuggets coach George Karl has leaned on Anthony's rare scoring brilliance to establish a high-octane offense capable of dropping 130 points on even strong defenses. While over the years players like Marcus Camby, Nene and Kenyon Martin have helped Denver excel at defense, 'Melo's offense has been the team's identity.

Gallinari is different. He's a scorer first, second and third, yes, but more of a gunner than a wizard. Where Anthony has jab steps and dribble trickery for days, Gallinari is more deadly spotting up and heaving away. 'Melo is a career 31.1 percent three-point shooter. Gallo, known as The Rooster, is at 37.7 percent through two-plus seasons. What's more, while only 12 percent of Anthony's attempts have come from behind the arc, more than half -- a solid 51 percent -- of Gallo's shots are three-pointers.

That's a huge, huge difference for an offense accustomed to giving the ball to 'Melo about 15 feet from the basket 20 or so times a game. But Karl's teams have excelled in up-tempo situations, and Gallinari, successful under Mike D'Antoni's modified Seven Seconds or Less offense in New York, should offer new opportunities for Karl to flex his brain. The ability of Raymond Felton and groomsman Ty Lawson to set up Gallo in his favorite spots will be vital, and The Rooster will certainly need to pick up his own rebounding and defense. (If Denver fans thought 'Melo rebounding poorly? He didn't. Gallinari does.)

But the opportunity for magic is there, if Karl stays in Denver and Gallinari gets comfortable quickly. The Nuggets' offense will be vastly different with 'Melo gone, but Gallo will try to build a new era filled with three-pointers and magic.

That is, of course, unless the Nuggets flip him for a different player. ESPN's Ric Bucher reports that the Nuggets will consider moving the Italian before the deadline, with the Clippers, Cavaliers and Raptors interested.

Corey Brewer Traded To Knicks, Could Be Dealt Again, According To Report

Corey Brewer, a fourth-year wing who was the No. 7 pick in the 2007 NBA draft, was traded to the New York Knicks on Monday as a part of the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster. The Minnesota Timberwolves sent Brewer to New York in exchange for Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry's expiring contract and $3 million cash, according to reports. But Brewer may not last long in New York.

Howard Beck of the New York Times reports that the Knicks could look to deal Brewer before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. Beck says that there is a market for Brewer, who will be a restricted free agent at the season's end. Brewer played 24 minutes per game this season for the Timberwolves, who spent much of the offseason shoring up the two wing positions with draft picks (like Wesley Johnson and Lazar Hayward) and trades (Martell Webster). Brewer ended up losing playing time to the new recruits.

Known primarily as a defender, Brewer has been an inconsistent shooter and scorer his entire career. He shoots 40 percent from the floor and 31 percent from beyond the arc. Brewer's Florida Gators won the 2006 and 2007 national championships with Joakim Noah and Al Horford headlining the team.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Reportedly Includes Corey Brewer Heading To Knicks From Timberwolves

The Carmelo Anthony trade keeps spawning more parts as details slowly trickle out and Corey Brewer is reportedly the latest piece to be thrown into the pile. The Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves put together a three-team package sending almost a full roster of players in motion, all centered around Anthony. 

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported the addition of Brewer to the trade following the whirlwind of reports on the Anthony trade on Monday night.

As it stands right now, this is what the trade looks like from a player standpoint:

Knicks get: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman, Corey Brewer
Nuggets get: Timofey Mozgov, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Raymond Felton
Timberwolves get: Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph.

The Nuggets are reportedly receiving three draft picks, as well, a first-rounder and two second-rounders.

Stay tuned for more details as they become available and check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream for the latest.

Carmelo Anthony To The Knicks Trade Confirmed By Nuggets

Carmelo Anthony has been traded to the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri confirmed to NBA.com's David Aldridge Monday night. Anthony was traded to the Knicks Monday after seven months of rumors threatened to destroy the Rocky Mountains. The Nuggets received Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and New York's 2014 first-round pick. The Knicks grabbed 'Melo, Chauncey Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Anthony Carter and Shelden Williams. To assist with the swap, the Minnesota Timberwolves sent Corey Brewer to the Knicks and took back Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry.

Ujiri confirmed the parameters of the trade, and told Aldridge that Denver planned to keep the new Nuggets. There had been rumors Monday that Denver planned to execute the trade with the Knicks and flip at least a couple of the players -- reportedly Felton and Gallinari -- to the New Jersey Nets for two first-round picks. Ujiri is denying that the Nuggets will execute such a deal.

All told, it's a hefty pull for a player who was going to be a free agent in all likelihood, and who is a top-15 player in the NBA at best.

Carmelo Anthony To New York: First National TV Game With Knicks Could Be Vs. Miami Heat

Unless a broadcaster decides to change their TV schedule between now and then, Carmelo Anthony will make his national debut as a member of the New York Knicks during Sunday night’s game against the Miami Heat. Tipping off at 8 pm ET on ESPN in Miami, that’s gonna be a monstrous event. Even if it is only being played in front of Miami fans.

Anthony’s first game with the Knicks should be Wednesday’s Madison Square Garden matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.

For the past several years, the Knicks have been the expected destination for any number of stars ranging from LeBron James to Melo, with their only major acquisition being Amare Stoudemire. They’ve been very much a part of the stories of each big name on the move.

Oh yeah, and Melo is best bros with James and Dwyane Wade, recently implying he’d like to escalate their relationship into a conference rivalry.

Carmelo Anthony's Knicks Debut Could Be Vs. Bucks At Madison Square Garden, According To Report

Carmelo Anthony’s first game as a member of the New York Knicks could be Wednesday’s home contest against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Marc J. Spears. That’s assuming everybody passes physicals, of course.

It’s scheduled to be played at 7:30 pm ET and televised on NBA League Pass. Ticket prices for that game have already doubled and will likely only continue to rise as it becomes more apparent he’ll make his debut that day. Simply put, that game is going to be a zoo.

And you thought a midseason visit from Earl Boykins and Carlos Delfino couldn’t get any more exciting!

It would be a homecoming for Melo, who was born in Brooklyn and played his college ball at Syracuse. For Knicks fans, it would mean the pairing of Anthony with Amare Stoudemire, backed up by … all those other former Nuggets, because the Knicks don’t have very much left. Melo!

Carmelo Anthony Trade Terms All Isiah Thomas, Not Donnie Walsh, According To Report

The New York Knicks got their man on Monday night, finalizing a trade to bring Carmelo Anthony to New York after months of speculation. The cost for Anthony and the pieces that came with him was sky-high, with New York sending six players and three draft picks total to the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. With the Knicks going all-in on Anthony, the move appeared to be a break from the previous talk coming from general manager Donnie Walsh, who had been ready to ride out the storm and wait for the Nuggets to cave.

According to Yahoo! Sports, Walsh wasn't sold on giving up everything for Anthony, but felt pressure from Isiah Thomas and James Dolan. In multiple tweets, Adrian Wojnarowski laid out the details, and speculated about what may have gone on behind the scenes.

Donnie Walsh ally says of steep price paid for Melo: "This is all Dolan. All Isiah. All (Worldwide) Wes and Leon Rose..." Donnie Walsh always believed the Knicks could be patient, preserve roster, and keep financial flexibility. He didn't suddenly change mind. Walsh believed the Knicks could adhere to those principles, and still get 'Melo. All that went out the window, with Isiah/CAA pushing Dolan.

It's clear the Knicks almost had to make this move from a public relations standpoint. If the New Jersey Nets had secured Anthony, the Knicks would take a big hit in the eyes of the public, playing second-fiddle to the Nets. But with Anthony always preferring to play in New York, did the Knicks have to give up as much as they did? It appears Walsh didn't think so and was at odds with the higher-ups and major players.

For more on the deal, check out our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream.

Carmelo Anthony To Knicks Trade Reactions From Nuggets, New York Fans

Carmelo Anthony has been traded to the New York Knicks according to multiple reports — how are Denver Nuggets fans holding up?

Denver Stiffs, SB Nation’s Nuggets community, threw up an open thread for the night once the trade was reported, complete with a photo of an embracing Anthony and Chauncey Billups, who will remain teammates in New York if the deal goes through.

Based on their reactions, they appeared more resigned to losing Melo than they did to losing Billups. Several hope the veteran guard can return to retire in Denver. There’s some clear anger directed at Anthony and the front office, along with a sentiment that New York gave up too much in the deal. Some Knicks fans even stop by to agree with that last part.

Over at Posting & Toasting, our Knicks community, many fans are even more upset than Denver’s were. How could this trade possibly make everybody sad at once?

Oh, and this trade would also affect the Minnesota Timberwolves. Canis Hoopus is just now expressing itself on the matter, but so far appears pleased.

Carmelo Anthony Trade: Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph Reportedly Headed To Minnesota Timberwolves

The Carmelo Anthony mega-trade has a number of moving pieces and a third suitor, according to a report on Monday evening. The Minnesota Timberwolves are the third team in the deal, jumping into the fold to take Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph. Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman are headed to New York with Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Raymond Felton heading to Denver.

Yahoo! Sports reported the rest of the deal, which includes draft picks and cash heading from New York to Denver and the Timberwolves taking two players, as well.

In total, 11 players are on the move between three teams, with three draft picks and, perhaps, a few million dollars also changing hands. With as many moving pieces involved, it's easy to see why negotiations dragged on for months as the Carmelo Anthony saga wore on the parties involved.

For more on the deal, check out Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream.

Carmelo Anthony Reportedly Traded To New York Knicks, Ending Months Of Speculation

Carmelo Anthony has finally been traded after the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets reached a deal late on Monday night that would send Anthony to New York. The news broke just a short time after reports surfaced indicating a deal was close. Anthony had been linked to both the Knicks and New Jersey Nets since it was reported he wouldn't sign an extension, though the trade saga dragged on, appearing to near completion multiple times before deals fell through.

The Denver Post reported the deal was official on Monday night on Twitter. The deal involves multiple players and draft picks, with the details passed along by Tom Jolly.

Denver Post: Denver gets Chandler, Felton, Gallinari, Mozgov, Knicks '14 1st, Warriors' 2nds in '12 and '13 and $3 million.

To recap, Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman are headed to New York, with the Knicks sending Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Raymond Felton to Denver. In addition to those three, Timofey Mozgov was added to the Knicks final offer at the last second and is headed to Denver, as well. Finally, it appears the Nuggets also picked up three draft picks and cash.

Stay tuned for the latest as it becomes available. For more on the Carmelo Anthony saga, check out our StoryStream.

Timofey Mozgov In Knicks' Carmelo Anthony Trade Package, According To Report

Timofey Mozgov has been a sticking point for both the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks throughout the latter stages of the Carmelo Anthony trade proceedings. The rookie center has reportedly found himself placed on and off the table and excluded from what was supposed to be the Knicks’ final offer.

According to the New York Daily News’ Frank Isola, that final offer might not have been so final. Isola says Mozgov would be included in an Anthony trade between the Knicks and Nuggets, and that “It’s not done yet.”

It might seem strange for a rookie who averages four points, three rebounds, and 13 minutes per game to be the key contention of this season’s biggest trade, but not many things about this entire ordeal make all that much sense to begin with, other than, you know, get money.

Before joining the Knicks, Mozgov was a star for Russia’s Khimki Moscow Region team.

Carmelo Anthony Trade To Knicks Could Happen Late Monday Night, According To Report

Carmelo Anthony is “close to being dealt” to the New York Knicks, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Marc J. Spears. Adding a little urgency to this report, Spears also says the deal could happen “possibly tonight.” There aren’t very many hours left in “tonight,” so according to this report we’re talking about any minute now.

In response to a reminder that Anthony promised at the All-Star Game to be playing for the Nuggets Tuesday night, Spears said, “promises are made to be broken.” Anthony could always take a Nuggets jersey with him to New York, you know.

The Knicks’ reported final offer, which Nuggets coach George Karl prefers to the alternative, means Denver would get Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Raymond Felton for Anthony and Chauncey Billups.

The long, ridiculous Anthony trade saga is winding down, by necessity if nothing else as the trade deadline nears. We could be looking at the end of the road sooner than expected, if this report turns out to be accurate.

George Karl Finds Carmelo Anthony Trade To Knicks Preferable To Nets Deal

George Karl is pushing the Denver Nuggets to accept the New York Knicks trade offer for Carmelo Anthony instead of dealing with the New Jersey Nets, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Marc J. Spears. Karl reportedly prefers the lot the Nuggets would get back from the Knicks to the assortment the Nets could provide.

The team’s management, including president Josh Kroenke and GM Masai Ujiri, reportedly prefers the Nets’ final offer of Derrick Favors and draft picks.

With his contract ending at the end of the year, Karl understandably wants the Nuggets to be able to compete through the end of the season and make a playoff run, rather than build for the future. Landing a handful of picks and a potential star like Favors would set up Denver’s future nicely, but it would dismantle a season that still has a chance to be a success, all things considered.

ht SB Nation Denver

Carmelo Anthony Trade To Knicks Could Be Followed By Nuggets Swap With Nets

The latest development in the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors has nothing at all to do with a trade involving Carmelo Anthony. Instead, it's about what might happen in the wake of that trade between Anthony's Denver Nuggets and the team that won't end up trading for him, the New Jersey Nets.

ESPN's Chris Broussard has the latest information in a tweet:

Sources say NJ in talks w/Den to send 2 1st round picks to Den for Mozgov & either Gallinari, Chandler or Felton, if Melo traded to NYK

Should Broussard's report come true, it might be one of the savvier moves the Nets have made since owner Mikhail Prokhorov purchased the team; forcing the Knicks to pay through the nose for Anthony by bidding against them with the Nuggets is smart, but taking advantage of the Nuggets' sudden surplus of young talent and swapping draft picks to Denver for players the Nets might want — Timofey Mozgov is apparently a blue-chip prospect? — could be smarter.

And if the Knicks want to send a third of their roster to the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and bench players, why shouldn't the Nets benefit from the swap meet?

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Could End With Monday Decision On Nets, Report Says

Carmelo Anthony could end seven months of trade rumors by making a decision on whether he will sign an extension with the New Jersey Nets on Monday, reports the New York Post. The Post's Fred Kerber, Peter Vecsey and Marc Berman cite anonymous sources who say 'Melo is expected to inform Nets management on Monday whether he will sign a three-year, $65 million contract required to push the team's trade with the Denver Nuggets through. Reports last week suggested the Nets and Nuggets had reached a deal, with Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams and Renaldo Balkman joining 'Melo in New Jersey, and Denver receiving Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Ben Uzoh, Troy Murphy and up to four first-round picks.

But New Jersey won't give up Favors or its own 2011 first-round pick without a long-term commitment from 'Melo, who started for the Western Conference All-Stars on Sunday. Anthony met with Nets franchise owners Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z Saturday night in Los Angeles. Reports suggested he left the meeting noncommittal about whether he'd sign the extension. 'Melo met with New York Knicks franchise owner James Dolan last Thursday, according to reports.

If 'Melo officially rejects the Nets, it remains to be seen whether the Nuggets and Knicks will work out a deal. The teams currently seem to be quibbling over Timofey Mozgov.

Follow this StoryStream until the bitter end for all the latest in Carmelo Anthony trade rumors. For more on New Jersey's efforts and plans, visit NetsDaily.

New York Knicks' 'Final Offer' In Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks Does Not Include Timofey Mozgov

The New York Knicks have revised their "final offer" in a trade for Carmelo Anthony, reports Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears, and the package does not include rookie center Timofey Mozgov. Late Sunday, Alan Hahn of Newsday reported that the Denver Nuggets would not trade 'Melo to the Knicks without receiving Mozgov in the deal. That came after a reported "final offer" from the Knicks that was later revised.

The Knicks have offered Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton for 'Melo and veteran point guard Chauncey Billups. Spears reports that the Knicks would also send Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who would send Corey Brewer to the Nuggets. Denver would also receive New York's 2014 first-round pick.

Mozgov would be an odd sticking point. The 24-year-old Russian center plays sparingly for the Knicks, and have averaged four points and three rebounds per game this season. He is promising, and has a three-year contract worth $8 million. But given that he was an unrestricted free agent that few teams made a run at just months ago, that he has become a make-or-break player in a trade involving a current All-Star and possible a future one in Gallinari is just weird.

With such a deal, the Nuggets would be looking for an accelerated rebuild with no drop-off. Denver is currently locked in a tight playoff race in the West, barely hanging on to the No. 8 seed.

Knicks Deny Isiah Thomas' Involvement With Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks

Would it be any fun if the Knicks were doing something and Isiah Thomas wasn’t somehow involved?

Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported late Saturday that Isiah Thomas has pushed Dolan behind the scenes to ignore current Knicks president Donnie Walsh’s reluctance to part with both Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari in a midseason trade for ’Melo.

When asked about his involvement, Thomas did not exactly deny those rumors. The coach of Florida International University and bug-in-the-ear-of-James-Dolan refused to comment.

Sunday, the Knicks made the rare effort to release a joint statement from owner James Dolan, President Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni about the rumors:

"We want to make it abundantly clear that we have been in constant communication throughout this process and the three of us are in complete agreement with everything that we are currently working on. Together, we will do what is best for the long-term success of the franchise. In addition, we want to make it clear that no one from outside our organization has been involved in this process in any way. We will have no further comment at this time."

Raise your hand if you actually believe that.

If the Knicks don’t end up getting Carmelo, you can bet Knicks fans will blame Isiah Thomas’ alledged-tampering with James Dolan. And you can bet Dolan will blame Donnie Walsh. Because while they might be winning again, they’re still the Knicks.

Keep an eye on Knicks blog Posting And Toasting for updates.

Carmelo Anthony To The Knicks Trade Reportedly Hinges On Timofey Mozgov

That headline is not a joke, unless Newsday's Alan Hahn is pulling an elaborate rouse. Hahn reports that the Denver Nuggets are demanding rookie Russian center Timofey Mozgov in a proposed trade that would send All-Star Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. Mozgov, 24, is averaging four points and three rebounds a game for New York this season.

The Knicks signed Mozgov to a three-year contract worth $8 million last summer, but coach Mike D'Antoni has been hesistant to use him too often, instead opting for veteran Ronny Turiaf or a line-up starring Amar'e Stoudemire at center. Losing Mozgov, though, would hurt D'Antonio's flexibility, assuming he'd like Anthony and Stoudemire to play their natural positions (small and power forward, respectively) in a potential playoff match-up with traditionally sized teams like the Celtics or Bulls.

Earlier Sunday, the Knicks reportedly presented a final offer that did not include Mozgov or rookie Landry Fields. Hahn reports that if the Knicks won't include Mozgov, the Nuggets will instead deal 'Melo to the New Jersey Nets. But it remains unclear whether Anthony would sign an extension with New Jersey. If he doesn't, the Nets won't trade for him.

Report: Knicks Make Final Offer To Nuggets For Carmelo Anthony

Could we really be nearing the end of the Carmelo Anthony saga? The latest trade rumor is that the Knicks may have made their final offer to the Nuggets in an effort to make a swap.

CBS Sports' Ken Berger tweets this final offer from the Knicks, citing sources:

Sources: #Knicks have made final offer for Melo: Chandler, Gallinari, Felton, Curry, first. No Fields, no Mozgov. It's up to Denver now.

That's Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Eddy Curry, and a first-round pick for Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, and Anthony Carter. The Knicks' core, should that deal be accepted, would be a very strong Billups-Landry Fields-Anthony-Amar'e Stoudemire-Timofey Mozgov lineup; Denver would be left with a host of young players.

It's also a fairly sane proposal on the Knicks' end: refusing to send their rookies, Fields and Mozgov, who both proven valuable already, likely makes the Knicks better both in the near term and the long term.

Of course, this deal now depends on whether the Nuggets think that package of players is enough. If not, it's possible Anthony could still go to the Nets, or nowhere — or to New York if this isn't a final offer. Really, we don't have any idea what the final move in this particular chess game is.

But we do know the NBA's trade deadline is February 24, this Thursday.

Isiah Thomas Does Not Deny Pushing Knicks Toward Carmelo Anthony Trade

Isiah Thomas did not deny rumors that he is advising the New York Knicks on a potential Carmelo Anthony trade, reports Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York. Thomas, the coach of Florida International University, refused to comment on rampant rumors that he is pushing Knicks franchise owner James Dolan to deal several of his best players for the Nuggets' All-Star.

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported late Saturday that Thomas has pushed Dolan behind the scenes to ignore current Knicks president Donnie Walsh's reluctance to part with both Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari in a midseason trade for 'Melo. Walsh replaced Thomas after the latter was fired in disgrace after a regrettable and embarrassing tenure.

Thomas has no official title in the Knicks organization, and the NBA in fact stepped in to prevent Isiah from holding dual roles as FIU coach and Knicks adviser. But Thomas reportedly remains close to Dolan, who is considered to be one of the least rational and sophisticated NBA team owners. Wojnarowski reported that Dolan likely wouldn't make Thomas the Knicks' official boss again after the travesty that was Isiah's last tenure. But Thomas does want to set up a puppet regime inside the Knicks' front office, one that Walsh wouldn't be a part of.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Throw Knicks' Power Struggle, Starring Isiah Thomas, Into Spotlight

Carmelo Anthony trade rumors have done the unthinkable: they have brought Isiah Thomas back from the NBA dead. Yahoo! Sports' unstoppable Adrian Wojnarowski reports that, yes, the disgraced former general manager of the New York Knicks, Isiah Lord Thomas, is calling the shots in the team's pursuit of 'Melo. Thomas has remained a close friend of Knicks franchise owner James Dolan since being fired in 2008 after a series of terrible seasons, the worst cap sheet in the history of the NBA's salary cap, and a damaging and explosive sexual harassment trial and settlement that cost the franchise more than $10 million.

That friendship has led Thomas to advise Dolan behind the scenes, and has allegedly pushed current Knicks president Donnie Walsh -- the man who cleaned up Isiah's mess -- out of the picture. Here's Woj:Thomas is driving everything through owner James Dolan - the trade for Carmelo Anthony, the departure of Donnie Walsh and perhaps even the eventual hiring of the New York Knicks' next president and general manager, multiple league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

"Isiah is calling the shots for New York," said one front-office executive with knowledge of the Anthony trade talks. "It's a disgrace. Donnie should walk."

Wojnarowski reports that Thomas, through Dolan, pushed for the Knicks to include Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari in their trade offer for 'Melo against Walsh's wishes. Woj also reports that Thomas doesn't believe Dolan can re-hire him as president of the team, but that Isiah plans to install a puppet regime in the front office that will listen to his advice, something Walsh has been reluctant to do (for the very obvious reason that Thomas' advice is generally bad).

The Knicks are believed to be in the driver's seat in a 'Melo trade after Anthony remained noncommittal following a meeting with the New Jersey Nets on Saturday.

Report: Deron Williams Interested In Joining Carmelo Anthony, Knicks In 2012

Think the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors couldn't get more complicated or exhausting? Well, here comes Deron Williams, who has been reportedly indicating interest in joining Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire on the New York Knicks roster in 2012 since last summer.

This report is according to CBS Sports' Ken Berger, and forecasts a summer of 2012 that might seem like a shadow of 2010's free agent bonanza.

A person with knowledge of the conversations told CBSSports.com on Saturday that Jazz point guard Deron Williams began informing close associates after last season that if Stoudemire wound up in New York, Williams would follow him there as a free agent in 2012. If the Knicks got Anthony with the three-year extension under current rules, it is not clear whether they'd have enough cap space to add a player such as Williams, Chris Paul or Dwight Howard when the trio become unrestricted free agents after next season.

And to make things even more interesting for the Anthony-to-the-Knicks situation, Berger adds that sources say "there are those in the (Knicks) organization" who would better off missing out on Anthony and filling holes while biding time for one of those superstars to head to the Big Apple in 2012.

So, yes, things keep getting curiouser and curiouser in the case of Carmelo Anthony. And we still have another full day of All-Star Weekend to go.

Carmelo Anthony Meeting With Nets' Mikhail Prokhorov, Jay-Z Produces No Agreement

Carmelo Anthony's meeting with the New Jersey Nets tonight was about as fruitful as every other stage of the Carmelo Anthony trade rumor process: not. Reportedly, Anthony and the Nets met for 40 minutes and failed to reach any sort of agreement.

ESPN's Chris Broussard and Marc Stein cite a source saying that Anthony, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, and Nets minority owner Jay-Z all met at a Los Angeles-area restaurant late Saturday afternoon, but produced no new developments.

Anthony was noncommittal after hearing the Nets' presentation, not saying whether or not he would sign the three-year, $65 million contract extension that is a prerequisite for the deal. He told the Nets he will think about the situation and would like to have a resolution before the end of the weekend.

So what was the purpose of the meeting? Well, it at least indicates that the Nets would like people to think they are pursuing Anthony — even if Anthony won't commit to signing an extension, the Nets negotiating with the Denver Nuggets and Anthony forces the New York Knicks to offer more in an effort to get the Nuggets to bite on making the trade.

Carmelo Anthony Meeting With Nets About Trade Rumors, Says Report

Carmelo Anthony will meet with New Jersey Nets management on Saturday night as trade rumors revolving around the Denver Nuggets' All-Star forward continue to dominate the NBA. Anthony met with New York Knicks franchise owner James Dolan on Thursday according to multiple reports. Earlier Saturday, Alan Hahn of Newsday reported that 'Melo will refuse to sign an extension with the Nets, thus killing a potential trade to New Jersey and making the Knicks the favorite.

But Frank Isola of the New York Daily News has reported that 'Melo will meet with the Nets' management team, including franchise owner Mikhail Prokhorov and minority owner/legendary rapper and Def Jam CEO Jay-Z. Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed the report.

The Nuggets would rather trade 'Melo to the Nets, owing to New Jersey's more impressive package, which includes rookie forward Derrick Favors, former All-Star guard Devin Harris and up to four first-round draft picks. The Knicks have reportedly offered Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler.

'Melo has had a busy All-Star Weekend. He attended the players' union's Friday meeting with league owners and coached the sophomores in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge. Saturday included All-Star practice, and 'Melo will be in the starting line-up for the West All-Stars on Sunday.

Report: Carmelo Anthony Will Not Sign Extension With Nets

As the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors continue to swirl during All-Star Weekend, we seem to have learned one thing about what might happen with the Nuggets superstar: Anthony is reportedly not going to sign an extension with the New Jersey Nets.

Newsday has a paywall, but the gist of Alan Hahn's report is this:

Multiple sources have told Newsday that Anthony has no interest in signing the three-year, $65 million contract extension that would be a requirement of a trade the Nets complete.

This means that it's highly unlikely the Nets' offer for Anthony, reportedly agreed to in principle on Friday, will be accepted — and that means the New York Knicks once again have the inside track on bringing Melo to the tri-state area.

Of course, Melo's interest in going to New York has never been in doubt; now, it seems, the Knicks have to decide whether trading a significant chunk of their team for just one player makes sense. They have until the NBA's trade deadline, at 3 p.m. on February 24, to make that decision.

Nuggets Fans Anxiously Await End Of Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors

Carmelo Anthony still hasn't been traded to the New York Knicks or New Jersey Nets. Reporters and analysts like to whine about the length of the circus that NBA trade rumors cause, because it creates more and more difficult work for them. But if anyone has a real beef at protracted negotiations, it might be fans held hostage while their teams' figure things out.

No fans have been more challenged to stay sane in the seven months of 'Melo negotiations than those of the Denver Nuggets. Andrew Feinstein of SB Nation's Denver Stiffs does a great job laying out why trade rumors have been so annoying to Nuggets fans.

To preserve our memory of the good times we had with #15 in a Nuggets jersey and get back to the (enter sarcasm) good old days when the NBA Draft Lottery was the biggest annual event to take place in Nuggets Nation, Melo must be traded soon after All-Star weekend. And I believe he will. Just like when Jason Kidd entered the 2008 All-Star weekend as a Net even though the entire basketball world knew he'd be a Maverick within days after the All-Star Game, I suspect Melo will follow a similar pattern and be a Knick - or a Net - by Thursday.

The life of a Nuggets fan is a most torturous one. Just two seasons ago, we were teased within two games of appearing in the NBA Finals. And now, with virtually the same roster in-tact (plus improvements like Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo on board) we're heading for a roster overhaul guaranteed to make the team worse for the foreseeable future. But this fan is ready to watch the Nuggets take a few steps back in order to leap many steps forward down the road.

Few teams break up with their star players on great terms. 'Melo will be no exception, owing completely to the inability of the Nuggets to reach a quick resolution with either the Nets or Knicks. Some of that comes back on 'Melo -- he's been noncommittal on New Jersey from the start, a real wrench in the whole thing -- but mostly, it's up to the teams to protect their fans from carnivals like this. The Nuggets and Nets, at least, have failed miserably at that this season.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Offer From Knicks Includes Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Says Report

The New York Knicks have offered Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler and a first-round pick to the Denver Nuggets in a potential Carmelo Anthony trade, according to Howard Beck and Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times, who cite a team executive involved in the talks. The package is a player short of a reported Nuggets offer from last week, which also included rookie Landry Fields.

Chauncey Billups would also be sent to the Knicks in such a trade, if the Nuggets accept it. It would give the Knicks the star many believe they need to team up with Amar'e Stoudemire. If Billups is waived this summer, only $3.7 million of his contract will count against the cap in 2011-12. After such a trade, and assuming the Knicks unload Anthony Randolph as expected, New York would have $50 million of salary locked up for the 2011-12 season, which, depending on how collective bargaining shakes out, could allow the Knicks to add a player of Felton's caliber next offseason.

The Nuggets are reportedly still working to get 'Melo to consent to a trade to the New Jersey Nets, who have offered Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and up to four first-round picks. That trade would seem to be more amenable to the Nets, though Gallinari might be the best player on the table (though Favors and the Nets' high first-round pick have more potential). But if 'Melo won't consent to a trade to New Jersey by signing a contract extension, it's all moot.

'Melo reportedly met with Knicks franchise owner James Dolan on Thursday.

Carmelo Anthony Met With Knicks' James Dolan To Talk Trade, According To Report

Carmelo Anthony met with James Dolan, the owner of the New York Knicks franchise, on Thursday to discuss a possible trade and contract extension, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. That reported meeting has triggered a conference call between Dolan, Knicks president Donnie Walsh, Denver Nuggets franchise owner Josh Kroenke and GM Masai Ujiri today, Isola says.

Earlier Friday, reports that the Nuggets and New Jersey Nets had reached an agreement on the parameters of a 'Melo trade surfaced. But such a deal would require Anthony's signature on a three-year, $65 million contract extension. It has been widely reported that 'Melo would prefer to sign that extension with the Knicks.

The last reported package demanded by the Nuggets in any Knicks trade including four of New York's top five players: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Landry Fields and Raymond Felton. The Knicks would also apparently send Denver a draft pick and Eddy Curry's expiring contract in the deal, and would receive veteran point guard Chauncey Billups.

That trade package may not be as attractive as that of New Jersey, which includes Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and up to four first-round picks. But if 'Melo refuses to sign an extension with the Nets, Denver has few other options.

During All-Star media availability on Friday, 'Melo maintained an air of ignorance on the entire trade saga.

Carmelo Anthony, On Potential Nets Trade, Will 'Have To Think About' Signing Extension

Carmelo Anthony told reporters Friday that he will "have to think about" whether he would sign a contract extension with the New Jersey Nets. The Nets and Denver Nuggets reportedly have a trade in place, contingent upon Anthony's signature on a three-year, $65 million contract extension. 'Melo addressed reporters at 2011 NBA All-Star media availability in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon.

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reports that upon being asked whether he'd sign such an extension with the 16-40 Nets, 'Melo responded, "That's something I'm going to have to think about, deeply." The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 24 at 3 PM Eastern. The Nets and Nuggets rekindled trade negotiations over the past week, a month after New Jersey's franchise owner Mikhail Prokhorov publically cut off the long bargaining between the team that initially began in September.

'Melo later said he was "mindboggled" at the situation at hand, and remained as noncommittal about everything involved in his trade saga as he has been throughout the negotiations. He did, however, say, according to Berger, that he "would love to have something happen this weekend. I would love to have a legit offer to sit down and figure it out."

The Nets will likely provide him that opportunity. Stay tuned.

Carmelo Anthony Trade To Nets Set, As Long As All-Star Commits To Contract Extension

Carmelo Anthony will be traded to the New Jersey as long as the Denver Nuggets' All-Star forward agrees to sign a three-year contract extension, reports Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record. The report backs up a New York Post story from early Friday that essentially said the same thing.

Whether 'Melo will agree to sign long-term with the 17-40 Nets remains in some doubt. In January, after Nets franchise owner Mikhail Prokhorov publically pulled his team out of 'Melo negotiations, Anthony told the press he would have liked to meet with the Russian billionaire. But 'Melo has remained coy about whether he'd consider extending his current contract with New Jersey. He has expressed fear about a potential NBA lockout, which could dramatically cut his salary if he were to reach free agency as franchisees executed a new collective bargaining agreement shrinking the players' share of revenue.

But that fear hasn't led 'Melo to sign an extension with Denver, where he's played the past 7-1/2 seasons after winning the national championship at Syracuse in 2003. 'Melo told the Associated Press on Friday that he has not agreed to meet with the Nets yet, though it's worth noting that he had feigned ignorance throughout the process.

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 24 at 3 PM Eastern.

Carmelo Anthony Contract Extension Reportedly The Only Thing Holding Up Nets Trade

An agreement from Carmelo Anthony to sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension is the only thing holding up a trade that would send the All-Star to the New Jersey Nets, according to Fred Kerber of the New York Post. That means the Denver Nuggets and Nets, apparently for the first time, have reached an agreement on the pieces that would move. Yahoo!'s ace Adrian Wojnarowski reported the base parts of the deal, which would include 'Melo, Chauncey Billups, Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and others, late Thursday.

'Melo is expected to meet with Nets franchise owner Mikhail Prokhorov this weekend in Los Angeles as the NBA descends for All-Star festivities. But Anthony will also reportedly meet with Knicks franchisee James Dolan. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has been said to be hesitant to mortgage the farm for 'Melo, given that the Nuggets are demanding a mint. (The most recent report included Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Landry Fields, or the Knicks' four best players not named Amar'e Stoudemire.) If Dolan can either convince himself to pull the trigger on such a deal or convince 'Melo to reject the Nets, the Nuggets' deal with New Jersey could fall apart.

As such, it remains unclear why the Nuggets would be willing to allow 'Melo to meet with New York.

The Nets walked away from the table a month ago before Prokhorov could meet with 'Melo because the Russian billionaire decided that negotiations had sucked the life from his team. The NBA trade deadline is on Feb. 24, meaning these new negotiations can only drag on so long.

For more on the Nets, please check out the comprehensive and excellent NetsDaily.

Carmelo Anthony, Trade Rumors At Full Volume, Will Meet With Knicks And Nets During All-Star Weekend

As NBA trade rumors continue to pick up steam inside of a week before the NBA trade deadline (Feb. 24, 3 PM Eastern), Carmelo Anthony will reportedly meet with the franchise owners of the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, reports Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Anthony will be in L.A. to attend the players' union's meeting with franchise owners on Friday afternoon, coach the sophomore team in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge Friday night and play in Sunday's All-Star Game. Meanwhile, his future may very well be decided in meetings with the Knicks' James Dolan and the Nets' Mikhail Prokhorov.

Via SB Nation New York, other members of the Knicks' collective to meet with 'Melo aren't yet known. Dolan is largely an absentee franchisee, stepping in to make (or, in some opinions, break) major decisions but otherwise content to focus on other business and his amateur jam band. Prokhorov is certainly an absentee at this point; he literally swooped in a month ago to end the Nets' first round of flirtation with 'Melo due to the heartache it had caused his players.

Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski reported late Thursday that the framework of a new deal between the Nuggets and Nets is being hammered out. That trade, of course, relies on 'Melo agreeing to sign a contract extension with New Jersey. The franchise is on track to move to the new Barclay Center in Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season. In the meantime, the Nets are 8-1/2 games out of the playoffs in the shallow East.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks With The Nets Back In Advanced Stages

The Carmelo Anthony trade rumors have, apparently, come full-circle, with the Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets reportedly piecing together the framework of a deal that would send Anthony to New Jersey. The news comes just about a month after Nets’ owner Mikhael Prokhorov called off talks and told the team to walk away from the deal after the two teams were unable to find a common ground in earlier discussions. Now, the two sides are reportedly back at the table, discussing a less complicated deal than the one before.

According to Yahoo!‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the trade package is scaled-down from the last time the Nuggets and Nets were discussing a deal. Instead of a three- or four-team deal, it’s just the New Jersey and Denver this time around.

The Nets and Nuggets are discussing a deal that would send Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Melvin Ely, Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams to the Nets for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round draft picks, a league source with knowledge of the talks told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday night.

As Wojnarowski mentions, the framework of the deal could also be used against the New York Knicks in an effort to get them to up the ante in an effort to bring Anthony to New York. Anthony has been linked to the Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers since Prokhorov called off talks in January.

Anthony and Prokhorov will be both in Los Angeles this weekend, as well, perhaps allowing the two sides to meet and discuss an extension. For any trade to be finalized, Anthony would have to agree to an extension, ensuring he remains with the destination team for the long-term.

For the latest news, stay with our Carmelo Anthony trade rumors StoryStream.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Would Cost Top Four Knicks Not Named Amar'e Stoudemire

If the New York Knicks want to trade for Carmelo Anthony, the price will be the team's top four players not named Amar'e Stoudemire, according to a report by Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times. The Denver Nuggets, looking for a sizable pull in any 'Melo trade, has reportedly asked for Raymond Felton, Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and a first-round pick in exchange for 'Melo and Chauncey Billups. At time this season, the Knicks' starting line-up has been Stoudemire and those four players.

Obviously, that's a trade the Knicks can't and won't make, as Abrams also reports. The Knicks are apparently more interested in giving up just one player of note and possible two picks, assuming the team can flip Anthony Randolph for a first, as has been rumored for about a month. New York believes it can sign Anthony in free agency next offseason, considering 'Melo has been rather open about his desire to play in the city.

But the risk becomes whether the New Jersey Nets, reportedly hot on the 'Melo trail again, convince Anthony to spend a year in Newark before the franchise moves to Brooklyn. The Nets have more reasonable assets the Nuggets are reportedly interested in, including rookie power forward Derrick Favors and a slew of picks.

We have just seven days before the NBA trade deadline. Follow this StoryStream for all the latest Carmelo Anthony trade rumors.

Carmelo Anthony To The Nets Trade Back On The Table, According To Report

Carmelo Anthony trade rumors once again include (drumroll, please) the New Jersey Nets, according to independent reports by Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski and the Bergen Record's Al Iannazzone. The Nets had dropped out of the 'Melo sweepstakes weeks ago when franchise owner Mikhail Prokhorov very publically withdrew the team from very public negotiations with the Denver Nuggets for the All-Star forward. Iannazzone reported Wednesday evening that the Nets and Nuggets had recently spoken about Anthony; almost simultaneously, Wojnarowski reported the same.

Wojnarowski reports that talks are currently live as the teams head into the All-Star break.

One source described talks as "progressing" and said they have been ongoing between Denver and New Jersey officials over a week. While the precise package being discussed was unclear, sources said talks have centered on a scaled-down package that still includes rookie forward Derrick Favors and draft picks.

Iannazzone reported Wednesday morning that Prokhorov and Nets GM Billy King would be in Los Angeles for All-Star meetings and festivities. Anthony will be there as an All-Star starter for the Western Conference. 'Melo had indicated a willingness to meet with Prokhorov to discuss a potential contract extension or Baltic merlots.

The New York Knicks had been the other major contender for Anthony's services, but the Knicks either don't have a package that interests the Nuggets or aren't willing to give up all that would interest Denver.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Involve Nets Again

Carmelo Anthony trade rumors involving the New Jersey Nets died weeks ago when franchise owner Mikhail Prokhorov publicly declared that the team was no longer interested in bidding for the All-Star forward. The declaration came despite an apparent willingness from 'Melo to speak to Prokhorov and attempt to be convinced to sign an extension with the Nets if they and the Denver Nuggets could reach a price. It was seen as a strong-man move: Prokhorov, facing embarrassment from striking out on 'Melo after months of negotiation, walked away from the table before the table crumbled under Anthony's weight.

As it turns out, not everyone is convinced Prokhorov and the Nets will stay out of the picture through the Feb. 24 NBA trade deadline. Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record, who has been among the reporters doing wonderful work digging through the 'Melo mire, cites a source who thinks the Nets could re-engage the Nuggets this weekend.

Conveniently enough, Prokhorov, Nets GM Billy King and Anthony himself will all be in the same location.

Trade talks will heat up over All-Star weekend, when team owners and executives descend on Los Angeles for the annual event, to attend some meetings and exchange trade proposals. Prokhorov and King will represent the Nets.

If the Nets and Nuggets reopen dialogue, it's possible Prokhorov and Anthony, who was voted a starter for the West All-Star team, finally could meet and discuss a contract extension. The Nets won't trade for Anthony if he doesn't sign one.

NBA All-Star Weekend is much like baseball's Winter Meetings -- face-to-face contact is the lubrication of deals in all walks of business, but perhaps especially in sports. That All-Star Weekend happens a week before the trade deadline is really extraordinarily convenient. That 'Melo will be there? Icing on the cake.

Observers might sigh at the thought of traveling down this road again. But remember that the Nets have the best package, the biggest need and longest history of engagement here. There's a reason New Jersey was such a big favorite in the 'Melo sweepstakes. It just makes the most sense.

Rumors Carmelo Anthony Will Stay With Nuggets Overblown, Says Report

The idea Carmelo Anthony, despite his role as the central figure in NBA trade rumors since September, could stay with the Denver Nuggets long-term has made the rounds over the past week as reports continue to indicate the Nuggets wants a huge return package from the New York Knicks or any other team willing to trade for 'Melo. But ace Yahoo! reporter Adrian Wojnarowski says that the environment in Denver has become too toxic to allow that to happen.

"With the way he's distanced himself from the team, the organization, they're kidding themselves if they think he's signing a new deal," one league official told Yahoo! Sports. "He hasn't checked out on the season because he never checked in."

The Nuggets are working on a contract extension for Karl, and no one close to him believes he can muster much enthusiasm to keep coaching Anthony.

When push comes to shove at the Feb. 24 trade deadline, assuming 'Melo isn't traded before then, Denver has to be comfortable following the path of the Toronto Raptors, who held onto Chris Bosh a year ago despite only nominal playoff hopes and zero championship dreams. There is little reason to believe that 'Melo would sign a deal with the Nuggets, even in the face of an NBA lockout, based on how this season has played out.

Meanwhile, Denver has a playoff spot by only a tenuous half-game margin. Should the Nuggets fall out of the playoff picture (and lose the postseason pay-out) and lose Anthony this summer? All because the team was pushing too hard for a huge package? It all seems so unlikely.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Indicate Steep Price For Knicks

Carmelo Anthony trade rumors continue to fly in advance of the NBA trade deadline at 3 PM Eastern on Feb. 24. New York Knicks rumors, in particular, remain in high supply. The latest incarnation comes from Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, who reports that as recently as Monday the Denver Nuggets put the price of 'Melo at Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, another starter (which would mean Wilson Chandler or Timofey Mozgov, apparently), Eddy Curry's expiring contract and a first-round pick. The Knicks would get Chauncey Billups in such a deal.

The Knicks have balked at that sort of deal, and it remains to be seen whether Denver will lower its asking price for New York specifically. A few reporters have cited sources who maintain that 'Melo will sign an extension with no team other than the Knicks; as such, offers from other teams that would "rent" 'Melo until his free agency this summer will be much lower than what the Knicks could convince themselves to give up (in theory).

But as New York believes itself to be Anthony's choice should he reach free agency, the franchise remains unwilling to mortgage the farm for a two-month head start on the 'Melo era. Meanwhile, the Nuggets reportedly believe that if they don't get a package they want before the deadline, they can convince Anthony to sign an extension before a potential lockout strikes on July 1. But Denver has just a tenuous grasp on a playoff spot out West, and without a 'Melo extension guaranteed, it remains difficult to believe the Nuggets will end the months of negotiation to roll the dice in the offseason, when guys like Amar'e Stoudemire (Anthony's friend and chief recruiter) will have basically unfettered access.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Hurting New York Knicks' Play, Donnie Walsh Admits

Carmelo Anthony trade rumors continue to circle the New York Knicks and, as was the case with the New Jersey Nets, the players rumored to be involved have played poorly. Marc Berman of the New York Post does the math; since Mikhail Prokhorov pulled the Nets out of the 'Melo sweepstakes, making the Knicks the primary trade rumor partner by default, New York has gone 4-8. A Friday loss to the L.A. Lakers dropped the Knicks to .500.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh actually admits to Berman that the trade rumors have affected play.

"[The Nets] did play much better right away. It's probably a bigger thing to players than you think it is. They've got to move. They've got family."

The Nets are 7-6 since Prokhorov's pronouncement, still well outside the playoff picture (even in the East!). But the team has looked considerably more confident, in even defeat, than it had during Newark's long flirtation with Anthony.

Walsh staunchly declares that the poorer play of late does not mean he will either put trade discussions on the fast track or abandon them altogether; the trade deadline, after all, is just weeks away, and when you're talking about drawing an All-Star for the next five years, a win or two represets small potatoes. But you wonder if this season's dose of poor play from heavily rumored teams might lead to a hesitation in the future in terms of franchise getting involved in midseason player sweepstakes.

Carmelo Anthony To The Lakers Amenable To Phil Jackson (If It Only Costs Derrick Caracter)

NBA trade rumors work in funny ways, and the rumor that suggests a deal could send Carmelo Anthony to the Lakers is no exception. Reporters desperately want an edge, a new angle, and so all manner of seemingly innocuous detail gets added to the story as the narrative builds. One of those little details as the Carmelo Anthony-Lakers angle made its course? That Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson want Carmelo, and are even mad that management has kept Andrew Bynum off-limits.

At shootaround today, both Bryant and Jackson laughed off the 'Melo rumors and extolled the virtues of the added size Bynum brings to the table. Jackson, though, did make a concession in terms of his willingness to bring Anthony into the fold, though.

Sadly, the return package Jackson suggests is worse than even what the New York Knicks' have come up with. From Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles:

"I told Derrick Caracter that if Denver gave us Anthony straight up, then we would trade Derrick Caracter for Anthony," Jackson said, smiling as he talked about the Lakers' seldom-used second-round draft pick. "That's the only trade I want on this basketball club, if that's one that works out."

No Devin Ebanks, though, apparently.

How Kobe and Jackson feel about adding 'Melo will remain a mystery, probably forever. But, if that report was true, there's something to be said for these guys' acting ability. If the report wasn't true? Well, that wouldn't much of a surprise at all.

Carmelo Anthony May Sign Extension With Nuggets If Not Traded By NBA Trade Deadline

We've long assumed that Carmelo Anthony would be traded from the Denver Nuggets any day now, with the New York Knicks and (recently) the Los Angeles Lakers being the front-runners after the New Jersey Nets dropped out last month. However, as we get closer to the February 24 trade deadline, there's a chance that the Nuggets do not find a trade partner for him. 

When that happens, will Anthony decide he wants to stay with the Nuggets for the long term after all? Speaking to reporters today, he admitted that he would consider signing the three-year, $64 million contract extension that has been on the table throughout this process. Via Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears.

[Carmelo Anthony] said after shootaround he would "take a real hard look at" signing extension w/Nuggets if not dealt by trade deadline.    

According to an earlier report, the Nuggets have no problem taking their time and waiting all the way up to the February 24 deadline. If Anthony is not traded, he will become a free agent this summer. However, with a new collective bargaining agreement likely to be in place, he stands to make less money than he would if he signs a contract extension before the summer. 

Carmelo Anthony Trade May Not Happen Until Deadline Day

Carmelo Anthony trade rumors will continue to circulate over the next couple of weeks, according to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, because the Denver Nuggets are interested in waiting until the trade deadline on Feb. 24 in order to drive up the price for their superstar.

'Melo has been on the market since September 2010, so a few more weeks shouldn't bother Nuggets bosses Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri too much. But with the extra time will come new and unbelievable offers from teams looking to lock up Anthony (such as the New York Knicks and L.A. Lakers) and teams hoping to rent the scorer for the stretch run.

The alternative for Denver -- keeping 'Melo past the deadline and hoping he'll flinch and sign a contract extension before July 1 -- isn't awful, either. The Nuggets have wanted to avoid following in the path of the Cavaliers and Raptors, teams that lost their star players last summer and suffered mightily for it. 'Melo has refused to sign an extension Denver offered last summer, spurring attempts to trade the All-Star forward.

If the past week has been any indication, more teams will likely join the trade rumor mill. A rumor suggesting a trade sending Carmelo Anthony to the Lakers was possible popped up on Tuesday. It now appears unlikely the Lakers will part with Andrew Bynum to make such a deal happen, but we can expect other teams to come out of nowhere, whether there is truth to the rumors or not.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks With Lakers In Preliminary Stages, According To Report

After a report on Tuesday morning stated Jim Buss shot down any talk of Carmelo Anthony joining the Los Angeles Lakers, conflicting reports appeared on Tuesday night indicating the Lakers are in preliminary negotiations with the Denver Nuggets about a trade for Anthony. The Lakers are reportedly building a package around Andrew Bynum, all in an attempt to land Anthony as the whirlwind trade rumors continue to swirl.

According to a report by ESPN’s Chris Broussard, the Lakers have yet to make an offer, but there has been preliminary contact between the two teams.

“There have been discussions between the two teams,” one of the sources said. “The Lakers are definitely an option.”

It is believed that the Lakers have not yet made an offer for Anthony but that the two clubs have merely had discussions.

Broussard cautions that the Lakers’ front office isn’t in agreement about dealing Bynum and that nothing is anywhere near imminent, as well.

There’s also conflicting information, laid out in the report as well, about whether or not the deal has been shot down. At least one source said the deal won’t happen while another was adamant the deal is still on the table and talks are ongoing. Confused yet? We are, too.

Stay tuned to our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream for the latest on Anthony, the Lakers, the Knicks and wherever the trade winds blow next.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumor To Lakers Reportedly Rejected By Team, To 'Dismay' Of Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson

Apparently, this Carmelo Anthony trade rumor involving the Los Angeles Lakers was actually close to happening. Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson were both interested in the possibility of bringing the Nuggets star to Los Angeles, but Jim Buss, the Lakers vice president of player personnel and the son of owner Jerry Buss, rejected the deal because of the inclusion of center Andrew Bynum, according to a report by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

It's a bit strange to see a New York writer break this news, so take it for what you will. However, it does fit into the narrative of how the Lakers' organization tends to work. There's definite friction between Jim Buss and Jackson, mostly due to Jim Buss' ascension in the organization sister Jeanie Buss, Jackson's longtime girlfriend, has been stuck in neutral despite putting in much more work than Jim.

Jim Buss is also more enamored of Bynum than anyone in the organization, since the story goes that he was the one who discovered Bynum as a high-schooler and convinced everyone in the organization to select him with the No. 10 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. Jim Buss reportedly squashed a 2007 trade that would have sent Jason Kidd to the Lakers for Bynum, much to Bryant's dismay at the time. 

The chances of Anthony ending up with the Lakers were slim anyway, because they do not have many players that could satisfy the Nuggets' goal of trimming salary. However, it does make sense that Jim Buss would balk at having his prized player end up elsewhere.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Now Involve Los Angeles Lakers

We long assumed that the only Carmelo Anthony trade rumors out there involved the New York Knicks. However, a new big-market team has reportedly entered the chase, one you probably didn't expect. The Los Angeles Lakers have had "preliminary discussions" with the Denver Nuggets involving a trade for Anthony, according to a report by ESPN's Chris Broussard.

The Lakers' trade package would center around Andrew Bynum, according to the report. The Nuggets have no interest in Ron Artest, who was rumored to be seeking a new venue last week.

Bynum would provide the Nuggets with a young, productive big man, which is incredibly difficult to find in this league. However, he also has a big contract and a history of injuries. The Nuggets have said they would like to trim salary, and a package centered around Bynum would have to include more players to make that happen. However, the Lakers do not have a single player that has a contract that ends after this season, making it very difficult for them to meet the Nuggets' wishes.

Broussard is also reporting that a rumored three-way trade involving the Nuggets, Knicks and Timberwolves is "very much alive," despite reports indicating otherwise.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Involving Knicks, Timberwolves Deflated

The latest Carmelo Anthony trade rumors perked up over the weekend, with two separate reports pointing at a deal that would send the Denver Nuggets' All-Star forward to the New York Knicks for a package including Wilson Chandler, at least one first-round pick and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Corey Brewer. Those rumors have been deflated on grounds that the Timberwolves don't think they ought to give up Brewer and pick for the expiring contract of Eddy Curry and enigmatic forward Anthony Randolph.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported that the trade could happen by the middle of this week, but his colleague Ric Bucher later reported that the Wolves would not be amenable to the deal. Brewer has struggled since the Wolves made him the No. 7 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, but Curry is dead weight, Randolph is a question mark and Minnesota values its draft picks.

Randolph has long been considered a key cog in a potential 'Melo acquisition for the Knicks. The Wolves are among the teams interested in trading for the third-year forward, with the Knicks reportedly looking for a first-round pick in 2011 or 2012 in such a deal. If the Knicks acquire a 2011 first-round pick, New York could then flip that selection to the Nuggets in a 'Melo deal. Should the Knicks pick up a 2012 pick, however, they could then use their own 2011 and 2013 picks to get Anthony.

For more on the Wolves, visit Canis Hoopus and SB Nation Minnesota.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Back, This Time Involving Knicks, Timberwolves And Nuggets

The Carmelo Anthony trade saga has rekindled with another three-team deal in the works, according to a report on Saturday. This time around, it’s the New York Knicks at the center of the talks, with the Minnesota Timberwolves emerging as a third-team in the potential deal. The Knicks were thought to be a landing spot for Carmelo should a deal get worked out ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline after the mega-deal involving the New Jersey Nets fell through in January.

ESPN’s Chris Broussard laid out the framework of the potential deal, citing sources close to the situation.

In the proposed trade, New York would send Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to Minnesota and the Timberwolves would send Corey Brewer and a first-round pick to Denver. Denver would also receive Wilson Chandler from New York.

Though a deal is, apparently, being discussed, nothing is imminent and talks could drag on right up to the trade deadline. Anthony would have to sign an extension with the Knicks, but all indications point to him wanting to play in New York.

For the latest on Anthony and any potential trade, check out our StoryStream.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks With Knicks May Be Rekindled, According To Report

Carmelo Anthony may be facing more uncertainty than ever, but the Denver Nuggets could be working on a trade that would send him to his most desired location. The Nuggets may be "warming up" to the possibility to trading Anthony to the Knicks, according to a report by CBS Sports' Ken Berger.

Berger reports that the potential change in the Nuggets' attitude mostly stems from a change in attitude regarding young Knicks big man Anthony Randolph. The Nuggets didn't like Randolph initially, but now that the New Jersey Nets' package centered around 2010 No. 3 draft pick Derrick Favors has been pulled off the table, the Nuggets are "reevaluating" whether Randolph makes sense.

Randolph appeared to be on his way to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a first-round draft pick, but talks there have stalled.

The Nuggets still hold out some hope that the Nets will re-enter the proceedings, and they obviously would prefer that package to whatever the Knicks may offer. But with the Nets out of the picture for now, and with other teams like Houston or Dallas only willing to surrender cap space because Anthony would not sign an extension with them, the Knicks remain the only real option. As such, Denver is trying to figure out whether their young players, such as Randolph, are worth it.

Carmelo Anthony Not Sure Where He Might End Up In Trade

Carmelo Anthony is still a member of the Denver Nuggets, and with less than a month to go until the NBA's Trade Deadline, he is more uncertain than ever about what the future may hold. It looked like he may have been headed to the New Jersey Nets, but that possibility evaporated when Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov pulled his team out of the sweepstakes.

Now, Anthony doesn't know where he'll end up. He admitted as much in an interview with Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post. 

Today I caught up with Carmelo Anthony, and for the first time, I really felt a sense of uncertainty from the guy.

Asked where he thought he'd be traded, the Nuggets all-star said, "At this point, I really don't know.

Anthony said the only teams he'd consider signing a long-term extension for are the Knicks, Bulls, Nuggets and, yes, the Nets, but he also said he has no idea because other teams could trade for him anyway. He said that he was "screwed," in that he could go to a team that is not one of the four he listed.

Anthony also said that he hasn't had much dialogue with Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri in quite some time.

Asked what's going to happen next, Melo said, "I haven't had any dialogue with (team executive) Masai (Ujiri) or anybody like that. Usually I talk to Masai, but a lot of stuff has died down. I'm pretty sure they've been behind closed doors, doing what they do. But I haven't talked to them personally."    

Carmelo Anthony May Save Money With A Trade, But Not That Much

It began as a mystery. Does Carmelo Anthony want to be traded? Then, we learned that, yes, Carmelo wanted to go to the New York Knicks, but he'd have to play with the Nuggets for at least part of the season. And it became a soap opera. Then it became a saga—will the Nuggets ever trade this guy? Now, it's fair to say all this "Melodrama" is just straight up comedy.

Need proof? Throughout the entire proccess, we've been operating under the assumption that by signing a contract extension this season, Carmelo would be saving boatloads of money. It'd allow him to sign for a max contract before a potential NBA lockout and the new collective bargaining agreement that will come with it. Makes sense, right?

A little too much sense. At CBS Sports, Ken Berger makes some excellent points about this flawed theory. Namely, that no matter what Carmelo signs this year, there's a chance the owners could include a provision in the next collective bargaining agreement that'd roll back salaries on all max contracts. In other words, "he's just the whole pre-empting the new CBA!" argument could be completely nonsense. Carmelo, of course, has no idea this is even a possibility.

Anthony's advisers have neglected to tell him is that rolling back existing contracts to fit the new hard-cap system also is part of the owners' proposal. ... According to a person involved in the formation of Anthony's strategy, he is unaware that the owners' proposal would make the three-year, $65 million extension Anthony would get as part of an extend-and-trade a moot point.

In other words, even Carmelo hasn't considered this part of the equation. And even if rolling back max contracts turns out to be nothing more than an empty threat from NBA owners, the idea that 'Melo would lose tens of millions with a new CBA is just as flimsy.

Berger--one of the only reporters to call BS on the Carmelo-Nets trade all along--crunched the numbers to help explain what a new CBA might look like. You can digest the details over at CBS Sports, but the key takeaway is this: Carmelo won't be losing that much money no matter what happens. Ultimately, if Carmelo hits the open market with a new CBA setting the parameters for a max contract, he'll sacrifice around $5 million. As Berger writes, it's the big, dirty secret that everyone's been ignoring throughout this process:

Everyone who was trying to get Anthony traded to New Jersey was hoping he'd never figure this out. It was the best deal for Denver, because the Nets had the most attractive assets to offer. It was the best deal for New Jersey, because they would've gotten a Brooklyn-born star to open their new building in that borough in 2012. It was the best deal for Detroit, which would've dumped Richard Hamilton and the $25 million left on his contract over the next two years. It was the best deal for Anthony's agents at Creative Artists Agency, who by delivering Anthony -- and, no doubt, promising Chris Paul in 2012 -- would effectively have been running the Nets organization from that day forward.

The best part? We still don't know whether Carmelo Anthony has actually figured out that he can afford to hit free agency without costing himself a fortune. For all we know, he just really, really didn't want to go to the Nets. So much so that he was willing to give up 10 or 20 million dollars. Which, again—hilarious.

Despite Carmelo Anthony Failure, Nets Believe They Can Still Land A Superstar

Carmelo Anthony won't be a New Jersey Net, but that doesn't mean the team that'd chased the Denver Nuggets' All-Star for five months will stay on the sidelines going forward. Nets general manager Billy King told WFAN on Thursday that he believes the Nets can land a superstar player despite the missed 'Melo connection. From Sports Radio Interviews:

Kevin Durant is a superstar and he's in Oklahoma City, Reggie Miller was in Indiana, when Michael (Jordan) went to Chicago, the Chicago Bulls were a franchise where you could just walk on the street and get a ticket for. He turned it into that. Sometimes you develop your own star and I don't foresee players looking at this and saying I don't want to play in a billion dollar building in Brooklyn at the Barclay Center. I think they're going to be saying they're in the Barclay Center playing there and I want to be a part of that."

The Nets clearly have some great assets in Derrick Favors and a bevy of first-round draft picks should an opportunity for a major trade present itself. It remains unclear whether veteran teams with high payroll obligations will freak out at the deadline and ship off star-level players with a new collective bargaining agreement coming down the pike. The institution of a hard or smaller salary cap could leave teams making tough roster decisions once the 2011 free agency period begins, and some teams, predicting that, could seek to make moves early to avoid the bumrush.

By not trading for Anthony, New Jersey maintains flexibility in both spots. Favors, as it were, projects to be a very good big man down the line, and could become the Nets' de facto star, even if it isn't a magical scorer like 'Melo. Barring a trade, the Nets also figure to have a top-six pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks With Knicks Could Be Bolstered By Anthony Randolph Deal

If the New York Knicks manage to trade third-year enigma Anthony Randolph for a 2012 first-round pick, the team's hopes for landing Carmelo Anthony could be signficantly bolstered.

The Knicks' own 2012 pick belongs to the Houston Rockets, so long as New York doesn't finish with a top-five pick (which seems highly unlikely, barring a catastrophic injury to Amar'e Stoudemire). An NBA law known as the Stepien Rule (after awful former Cavs owner Ted Stepien) does not allow teams to trade away two future first-round picks in consecutive drafts. In other words, a team couldn't offer its 2011 and 2012 picks in a trade.

Because the Knicks have no 2012 pick, that renders the team's 2011 and 2013 picks untouchable, since trading either would violate the Stepien Rule. The initial rumors of an Anthony Randolph trade were predicated on the idea that the Knicks would bring back a 2011 pick in the deal, which could then be flipped in a 'Melo deal. But, as NBA salary cap expert Larry Coon details on HOOPSWORLD, trading for a 2012 pick would allow the Knicks to package their own 2011 and 2013 picks in a blockbuster deal. As the Knicks would have a 2012 pick, trading either the 2011 or 2013 picks or both would not trigger the Stepien rule.

Last week, Randolph's agent delivered a trade request to the Knicks. It is believed that the Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the team's willing to trade for Randolph; however, the Wolves have no 2012 first-round picks on account of their own pick for that year being completely unprotected by the epic Sam Cassell-Marko Jaric deal. The Wolves' Grizzlies 2011 first-round is protected through No. 14, and as such will likely roll over to 2012. But that won't happen until the draft order beyond the No. 14 pick is set at season's end. The trade deadline is in February.

Business Insider's Adam Fusfeld reports that the Knicks will trade Randolph to the Indiana Pacers for a pick. The Pacers have all of their own first-round draft picks, and could send a 2012 pick to the Knicks that would allow New York to package its 2011 and 2013 picks for the Nuggets. (The Knicks' 2011 pick actually could be the Rockets' pick; Houston will be able to choose between the picks at season's end.)

Carmelo Anthony Trade Saga Wears On Nuggets Fans

Mikhail Prokhorov and the New Jersey Nets have walked away from a Carmelo Anthony trade, which means that Anthony is still with the Denver Nuggets. For Nuggets fans tired of having to deal with all the rumors and speculation about Anthony's future, that's a frustrating thing, even if Anthony is a great player.

Andrew Feinstein writes on SB Nation's Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs that the amount of coverage surrounding the whole saga shows what's wrong with the NBA right now.

Bring on the lockout. 

Bring on the franchise tag.

The system is broken.

The two most dramatic moments of the 2010-11 NBA season came on July 8th and January 19th. The first date being when LeBron James callously announced to the world that he had hand-picked the Heat to be his next NBA destination, and the second being when Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov announced that any deal for Carmelo Anthony would be nixed. That's right, the second most dramatic moment of the 2010-11 NBA season came from a press conference announcing something that wasn't happening.

That may be a bit of an overreaction, but I understand the sentiment. The whole thing seemed so forced, which is why it probably fell short in the end. I sympathize with Nuggets fans who just want to move on already.

Feinstein also has several theories about why the trade didn't happen. First things first, he pointed the finger at Anthony's handlers, William Wesley and Leon Rose, for pushing an agenda that Anthony didn't seem fully in line with following. Feinstein also blamed the public nature of the negotiations, which he thinks slowed down all the trade proposals and caused there to be so many iterations to the original offer. Finally, Feinstein pointed the finger at Anthony himself for not being clear about his true desires.

But in the end, the real point of the article is the frustration with the system. Feinstein summed that frustration up at the end of the article.

The whole situation points to a league-wide system that's broken, ranging from how revenue is shared among owners themselves to the collective bargaining agreement between the owners and their players. The only way to dampen this type of drama is to institute a system where all 30 NBA teams can actually make money and keep their superstars, too.    

Here's hoping that eventually happens.

Carmelo Anthony Says He Wanted To Meet Nets' Mikhail Prokhorov

The New Jersey Nets told the media on Wednesday that before the team gave up its pursuit of a Carmelo Anthony trade, the Denver Nuggets had indeed granted the Nets permission to talk to their All-Star forward about a potential contract extension should a deal have gone down. But Nets team owner Mikhail Prokhorov never took up the Nuggets on that offer, and 'Melo told reporters on Wednesday that he was disappointed.

After the Nuggets' Wednesday win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, 'Melo said he had looked forward to meeting Prokhorov when he found his team would allow it. From FanHouse's Chris Tomasson:

"Yeah, I mean he's a very interesting man," Anthony said. "For me to just be in the room with him and to just have a conversation, I would have loved that."

Unfortunately, that will only serve to make Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke feel more inadequate. Prokhorov was fierce in his rejection of continued trade talks, and it's unclear what in particular derailed negotiations once the Russian billionaire arrived in New York this week. Getting 'Melo to sign off on a multi-year extension was seen as one of the final hurdles toward getting a deal done; the Nets had permission to make their pitch directly to the star they'd courted for five months.

Like it or not, all that just adds to the intrigue surrounding Prokhorov.

For more on the Nets, visit Nets Daily.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks: Bulls In The Mix, Rockets A Dark Horse

Now that the Nets are officially out of the running in the Carmelo Anthony trade merry-go-round, there's a lot of room for the also-rans to jump back into the mix. And all signs seem to be pointing to the Chicago Bulls.

A league source told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports that Carmelo's agents are actively trying to get the Bulls involved in the proceedings.

William Wesley – Worldwide Wes – is expected to travel to Chicago for Bulls games on Thursday and Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers, a source said. Wesley unsuccessfully pushed LeBron James to sign with the Bulls as a free agent, and now has an interest in Anthony ending up there. Wesley represents Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau for CAA.

A deal between the Nuggets and the Bulls would likely hinge on Denver's willingness to take Luol Deng and his 3-year/$40 million contract. Wojnarowski also mentions that Anthony is starting to become unhappy with how long the process is taking. Could that open the door for a darkhorse, like say, the Houston Rockets? Wojnarowski mentioned as much Wednesday night:

Keep an eye on Nugget blog Denver Stiffs, Bulls blog Blog A Bull and Houston blog The Dream Shake for any updates and reactions.

Nets Withdrawl From Carmelo Anthony Trade Leaves Denver Nuggets 'Extremely Upset'

The Denver Nuggets are "extremely upset" at the news that the New Jersey Nets will no longer pursue a trade for Carmelo Anthony, according to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix. The Nuggets have put an amazing amount of time and work into negotiating with the Nets, finally allowing Anthony to meet with the Nets on Monday ( although a meeting never happened).

Denver's front office is suddenly in a tight spot as far as Carmelo goes; its number of potential trade partners has dwindled, but not as much as its bargaining power. With Derrick Favors off the table, teams like the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls know they have quite a bit less to compete with.

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has left people more than extremely upset in his time. It's nothing new.

For more on the Nuggets, join Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver. For more on the Nets, join Nets Daily and SB Nation New York.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks Cost Nets Wins, Prokhorov Says

The lengthy Carmelo Anthony trade talks that the New Jersey Nets engaged in this season have cost the Nets wins, franchise owner Mikhail Prokhorov said during his eye-popping press conference announcing that the team had withdrawn from negotiations for 'Melo.

Prokhorov was adamant that the public nature and length of the talks had left a toll on the Nets.

It has been played out in public and it certainly has taken a toll on the players and I believe that it has cost us several games. I think management did a great job, but there comes a time when the price is simply too expensive. I'm instructing our team to walk away from the deal.

The Nets are just 10-31 on the season, No. 14 in the 15-team Eastern Conference. New Jersey had the league's worst record last season when Prokhorov, a Russian billionaire with dodgy rumors and a certain mystique following him everywhere, bought the team. The Nets were in position to make a huge splash in free agency, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire and others all in play. Instead, New Jersey landed Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar and Johan Petro, hardly an All-Star team in the making.

In response to the soft summer haul, the Nets made an early play for 'Melo, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Nets plan to relocate to Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season; momentum and a star would certainly help build excitement for the borough's debut as an NBA home. But the Denver Nuggets requested much of the Nets, and there had never been any assurance 'Melo would agree to sign a contract extension with New Jersey.

The negotiations and rumors dragged for five months before Prokhorov put a very public boot to them on Wednesday. The Nets should have cap space to work with come July, depending on how collective bargaining shakes out. Either way, the Net is still looking for momentum and a star. Perhaps the centerpiece of the rumors from the non-'Melo perspective -- rookie Derrick Favors -- can help answer those calls.

For more on the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Talks Never Led To Nets Meeting, Says Billy King

The New Jersey Nets' pursuit of Carmelo Anthony is over, the team announced on Wednesday, and the negotiations came without 'Melo ever having met with the franchise working so hard to trade for him. During a strange press conference before the Nets' Wednesday game against the Utah Jazz, Nets GM Billy King told reporters that the team had received permission from the Denver Nuggets to engage in direct talks with 'Melo about a potential contract extension.

But the Nets never met with Anthony, despite reports that team owners Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z hoped to fly out to Denver to sit down with the All-Star forward on Tuesday.

Prokhorov announced that the Nets had abandoned 'Melo trade talks at the beginning of a highly anticipated press conference broadcast live on NBA TV. Prokhorov hadn't appeared in his capacity of primary owner of the Nets since the season opener in October. The Nets' Wednesday game has been dubbed Russian Heritage Night, as Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko is the only Russian player currently in the league.

It remains unclear whether the Nets and Nuggets reached an agreement on trade pieces before broaching whether 'Melo would sign an extension with New Jersey. The Nets had been reported to have been ready to give up rookie Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris and up to three first-round draft picks, but only if 'Melo would sign a contract extension.

Carmelo Anthony Trade: Mikhail Prokhorov Tells Nets To Walk Away

The New Jersey Nets have ended their lengthy pursuit of Carmelo Anthony, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov announced Wednesday evening.

In a highly anticipated press conference at the Nets' Prudential Center in Newark, the Russian billionaire who bought the team about a year ago told the media that negotiations for 'Melo, a perennial All-Star, had taken too long and cost New Jersey too many games. He also said that his decision to move on from the 'Melo sweepstakes was final.

Prokhorov arrived in the United States this week in advance of Wednesday's Russian Heritage Night as the Nets host Andrei Kirilenko and the Utah Jazz. Reports suggested he would try to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Anthony in Denver on Tuesday. The meeting never happened, and it remains unclear as to whether the Nets received permission from the Denver Nuggets to speak to 'Melo or whether Prokhorov reached out to Anthony.

'Melo announced in August 2010 that he would not sign the three-year, $65 million contract extension offered by the Nuggets, and immediately became the subject of endless trade speculation. Anthony is reported to be focused on a trade to New York; the Nets will move to Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season. Earlier on Wednesday, reports surfaced that the Anthony's representatives were trying to get the Chicago Bulls to bid for 'Melo.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Pull Chicago Bulls Back Into Mix

Carmelo Anthony, still a Denver Nugget (against all odds), might never escape the trade rumor mill. Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the lull in action on a trade to send 'Melo to the New Jersey Nets has led to Anthony's agents attempting to pull the Chicago Bulls back into the mix.

The Bulls were reported to be an early contestant in the 'Melo sweepstakes, though Chicago's actual interest in landing the All-Star forward was never truly ascertained. The Bulls, after all, find themselves in the No. 3 spot in the top-heavy Eastern Conference, a legit challenger for an NBA Finals berth as star guard Derrick Rose comes into his own and the high-dollar frontcourt works itself out. (That latter detail has been derailed by non-simultaneous injuries to both of said big men, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah.) But Chicago could use some extra offense. The Bulls have the league's No. 1 defense, but rank just No. 19 in offense.

Woj reports that William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley will visit Chicago this week, allegedly to broker talks. Wesley is the leader of CAA, the agency that reps Carmelo Anthony and many of the NBA's biggest star. Wesley also serves as Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau's agent.

Back in the fall, the Nuggets were believed to have wanted Noah in any 'Melo trade with the Bulls. Noah has since signed a five-year, $60 million extension that kicks in next season. That makes him quite a bit more difficult to trade. Woj reports the Bulls also seem wedded to losing Luol Deng's mighty contract in any 'Melo deal, which makes sense considering that both Anthony and Deng are true small forwards who deserve starters' minutes.

The Clippers, in desperate need of a small forward, were previously considered a potential Deng landing place.

For more on the Bulls, visit Blog-a-Bull and SB Nation Chicago.

Carmelo Anthony Trade 'Distractions' Causing Friction With Nuggets Coach

Carmelo Anthony's unending presence among trade rumors has led to distraction for the Denver Nuggets and could cost the All-Star forward playing time, according to a report from FanHouse's Chris Tomasson.

'Melo has been a focus of trade rumors since August, when he announced he did not plan to sign an offered $65 million contract extension with the Nuggets. The rumors hit fever pitch in October, when the New Jersey Nets reportedly had a deal for Anthony, and again in January, as numerous reporters had 'Melo two shakes of a lamb's tail away from being on a plane to Newark.

The Nuggets have actually performed fairly well of late, beating the Suns, Cavaliers and Heat by a combined 90 points last week before submitting to the Spurs over the weekend. But Nuggets coach George Karl isn't satisfied with Anthony's commitment during practice.

"If Melo plays distracted, I can't play him as many minutes," Karl, whose Nuggets play host to Oklahoma City on Wednesday, told FanHouse. "I thought he was very distracted (Tuesday)... I don't know (if it's because of trade rumors). I don't have that answer."

Karl said overall the Nuggets had a very bad practice Tuesday and the team looked distracted, but he was willing to single out Anthony.

Karl would appear to be attempting to take control of the situation whether 'Melo stays or goes; as such, it's not really a sign that Karl is preparing for life after Anthony. The two have had a great run together in the Mile High City, but they've also butted heads publicly. This is not anything particularly new.

For more on the Nuggets, check out Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver.

Nets Do Not Yet Have Permission To Discuss Trade With Carmelo Anthony, According To Report

As of Monday, it looked like the New Jersey Nets had received special permission from the NBA to talk to Carmelo Anthony to discuss a proposed trade that would send Anthony from Denver to the Nets. However, the NBA hasn't yet given the Nets permission to talk to Anthony, according to Ian Thomsen of SI.com.

The Nets may eventually get the meeting approved by the NBA, but they have not done so yet, according to Thomsen's source. This contradicts an earlier report by David Aldridge that the Nets had indeed received permission.  

New Jersey wants a verbal commitment from Anthony that he will sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension before signing off on a proposed trade with Denver. They needed a special exemption from the league to convince Anthony to do so because it would otherwise be a violation of the NBA's tampering rules. Teams cannot meet with players who are under contract with other teams unless they receive special permission. 

The Nets are hoping to meet with Anthony once owner Mikhail Prokhorov arrives to the United States on Wednesday. Prokhorov and minority owner Jay-Z are expected to be present, but Anthony has not yet agreed to meet with them. He said on Sunday that he would only agree to meet with the Nuggets at this stage.  

Nets Reportedly Have Permission To Discuss Trade With Carmelo Anthony, But Nuggets' Star May Balk

According to several reports, the New Jersey Nets have received permission to meet with Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony to discuss a trade and contract extension. Nets owners Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z would like to meet with 'Melo before the Nuggets' next game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

But 'Melo may not take the meeting.

David Aldridge of NBA.com reported late Sunday that the Nets had been granted permission by the Nuggets to talk with Anthony. But after the Nuggets' loss to the San Antonio Spurs, 'Melo indicated he wasn't willing to sit down with anyone but the Nuggets. From CBSSports.com's Ken Berger:

Asked what his desire is, Anthony said, "I don't want to talk to nobody. I let the front office handle that type of stuff. It ain't my job to be talking to New Jersey, New York, the Lakers, Dallas, no one. That's not my job to do."

And so 'Melo continues to play coy as to whether he thinks enough of the Nets to sign a three-year extension worth $65 million should the Nuggets consummate a widely rumored trade also including Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton. Prokhorov is in the United States for the Nets' Russian Heritage Night, to be held Wednesday in Newark as Andrei Kirilenko and the Utah Jazz visit.

Nets Daily does fantastic work keeping up with every twitch in the protracted Carmelo Anthony trade talks; it is well worth a follow.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Could Be Waiting For End Of Nets Road Trip

Carmelo Anthony could finally be traded to the New Jersey Nets once the team's Western road trip ends on Monday, reports Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record. Fred Kerber of the New York Post similarly reports that the trade is back on track and could be consummated early next week.

The trade had stalled since last weekend, when myriad reports considered the deal to be on the precipice of completion. The Denver Nuggets reportedly bristled at the public nature the talks took, and threatened to cut off discussion with the Nets, possibly even turning to the rival New York Knicks for new 'Melo talks.

But cooler heads have evidently prevailed, and Iannazzone and Kerber report that the basic framework of the previously rumored deal -- 'Melo, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton will join up in Newark, while the Detroit Pistons will grab Troy Murphy and Johan Petro and the Nuggets will take on Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, a few draft picks and a bunch of salary fillers -- remains in place. Iannazzone indicates the Nuggets may still be pushing, or may have been successful in convincing the Nets to take on another long-term contract, either Al Harrington or Renaldo Balkman.

Yahoo!'s Marc J. Spears reports, meanwhile, that 'Melo still needs to be convinced the Nets are the right team for him.

SB Nation's NetsDaily has been hitting every single tip on this trade; follow NetsDaily if you're at all interested in the future of 'Melo.

Amar'e Stoudemire Told Carmelo Anthony To Resist Trade To Nets, According To Report

Amar'e Stoudemire has told Carmelo Anthony to resist a trade to the New Jersey Nets and that he wants the star scorer to join him with the New York Knicks, according to a report by Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. 'Melo's Denver Nuggets have been on the precipice of consummating a trade to send the forward to the Nets. But for that to happen, Anthony must agree to a three-year extension to ensure he won't become a free agent this summer.

The latest reports indicate 'Melo may not actually be on board with a move to the Nets. What role Stoudemire's outreach has in that position is unknown. Woj reports that Amar'e reached out to 'Melo via text message to express that he wants another star to join him in New York, and that he should resist a trade to the Knicks' soon-to-be cross-town rival.

That could constitute tampering, as Amar'e is a Knicks employee and team reps are not allowed to contact players under contract with other teams about contract, free agency or trade issues with the permission of the target's team. Commissioner David Stern has shown leniency with player-to-player contact, however, and hasn't given any indication he will meet the Cleveland Cavaliers' pleas to investigate tampering charges lobbed at the Miami Heat based on their signing of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in July 2010.

It's no secret that 'Melo prefers the Knicks based on location, team quality and the presence of a coach (Mike D'Antoni) and co-star (Amar'e) he knows and respects. D'Antoni has been an assistant coach under Mike Krzyzewski for Team USA basketball; 'Melo thrived with the national program from 2006 through 2008, where the Americans won gold at the Beijing Olympics.

The Knicks are 22-15 and currently in the No. 6 spot in the East. The Nets are just 10-27, a solid five games out of the playoffs. But New Jersey is willing to give up rookie big man Derrick Favors and multiple first-round picks for an extended 'Melo; the Knicks just don't have those types of assets.

For Knicks news and analysis, check out Posting And Toasting and SB Nation New York.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Reportedly Held Up By Anthony Himself

After all the talk, and scenarios put together to make a trade work, it's Carmelo Anthony that's reportedly holding up the proposed mega-trade between the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and others. Without Anthony's approval, and willingness to sign an extension with the Nets, the trade is dead in the water, doomed to go nowhere. As of now, the Nuggets star has given no indication he'll sign a contract with the Nets, leaving the deal up in the air.

ESPN's Chris Broussard spoke to sources near Anthony that elaborated on the holdup.

"He has not agreed to go to New Jersey," said the source, who speaks regularly with Anthony. "I have never heard him, in all the times we've talked, say he's willing to go to New Jersey. Not once. Personally, I would be stunned if he went there and signed an extension."

According to Broussard, the teams involved are working with no more than a hypothetical situation, with no indication that Anthony will actually agree to the proposal it it comes to pass.

You can see the problem here. With the amount of players and money changing hands in a trade of this magnitude, the Nets need Anthony to agree to an extension, locking him up long-term. Without it, there's no point putting the deal together, and Anthony stands no chance of landing in New Jersey.

Maybe it is time to bring the New York Knicks into the talks.

For the latest news and information about the proposed Carmelo Anthony trade, stay tuned to our Carmelo Anthony StoryStream.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Holding Up Other Deals, According To Report

The lack of closure in Carmelo Anthony trade negotiations is holding up other NBA deals, according to a report from FanHouse's Chris Tomasson.

Tomasson reports that the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers would engage in a second deal should 'Melo be sent to the New Jersey Nets, with Devin Harris being flipped to the Blazers for Nicolas Batum and Andre Miller. Batum rumors have been rampant for some time, with Portland said to be highly resistant to moving him.

With so many players -- up to 18 -- involved in the rumored three-team deal centered on 'Melo and Derrick Favors, there are too many moving parts for other deals to get done. It isn't believed that a 'Melo-Nets deal will lead to responses from the East's powers simply because Anthony won't make New Jersey an immediate threat. There's little need for the Knicks, Heat, Celtics, Magic or Bulls to respond to any trade by the Nets, unlike (for instance) the Suns' acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal in 2008.

But an eventual 'Melo trade, assuming it's consummated well before the trade deadline, could serve as an uncorking of sorts. Few teams can be satisfied with their current standing, and upcoming collective bargaining has plenty of franchises skittish about retaining long-term salary. If Anthony is traded soon, plenty more deals could follow in short order.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Stalls As Nuggets Reportedly Threaten To Bring Knicks Into Talks

Carmelo Anthony still has not been traded to the New Jersey Nets, leading to speculation about what exactly the Denver Nuggets are waiting for. We may have an answer: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that Nuggets execs were angered by the Nets leaking details to the media, and told them to keep their mouths shut or (wait for it) Denver would bring the New York Knicks back into the trade talks.

Indeed, the tone of the discussions between the Nuggets and Nets dramatically changed on Monday. Executives went underground with talks, and several agents were frustrated they could no longer get information from the two teams about where the talks stood. Sources still believed the Nets and Nuggets had the framework of a deal, but the talks had retreated from what one source deemed "really close" on Sunday.

The acrimony between the Nuggets and Nets over leaks and the trade negotiation's turtle pace won't change the fact that New Jersey's package is far better than anything the Knicks can offer. ESPN's Marc Stein backs up the report that the Nuggets have tried to tamp down the public nature of the talks; unfortunately, it is hard to repair a pipe with many leaks without taking the pipe out completely.

The Al Harrington sticking point -- the Nuggets want to lose him, no one else will touch his contract -- remains just that, a sticking point. While other teams might line up to tell Denver they'll take Harrington in order to grab 'Melo, none of those teams will be able to offer a young prospect like Derrick Favors or the number of picks New Jersey has made available. As such, the Nuggets' threat can't be taken entirely seriously.

Still, with a relatively unknown pair -- first-time GM Masai Ujiri and new owner Josh Kroenke -- at the helm in Denver, it's hard to know exactly what to expect. Stay tuned (by following our Carmelo Anthony trade StoryStream.)

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Put Chauncey Billups' Career Back On The Move

As Carmelo Anthony trade rumors reach a holding pattern, with the Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets reportedly at an impasse centered on the undesirable contracts of Al Harrington and Renaldo Balkman, the future of Chauncey Billups draws into some focus. Billups had always been peripheral to the 'Melo trade talks, until recently being pushed on stage as a part of the apparent package the Nets sought.

When just 'Melo and perhaps Harrington, Chris Andersen or J.R. Smith would be leaving the Nuggets, Billups could be considered a player that would stay in Denver -- his beloved hometown -- and finish his career quietly before transitioning to the franchise's front office. But now that he'd apparently headed to the Nets at some point, his relationship with the Nuggets and how much longer he plans to stick around the NBA are in flux.

Speaking to the media after the Nuggets' Monday practice, Anthony himself addressed Billups' future. From FanHouse's Chris Tomasson:

"The whole thing with the whole Chauncey situation, it's ... kind of hard for me to see him involved in that knowing what (the Nuggets) did to get him here in Denver, and knowing he's from Denver, knowing this is home and he represents the city of Denver," Anthony said. "To see him in all this stuff that's going on right now, I feel bad about it. But I guess that's just the business of basketball."

Billups' trade to the Nuggets was emotional, too; he, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince reportedly commiserated and wept when Detroit traded Billups to Denver in 2008. In New Jersey, the guard would reportedly be reunited with Hamilton, but the circumstances for each are much different. Billups is now 34 years old, just a couple seasons away from the end of his NBA career. Hamilton is considered a payroll anchor; the Pistons will be dumping him on the Nets for the expiring contract of Troy Murphy, under the reported deal.

It remains unknown whether Billups is amenable to the trade. He really has little choice, as he'd on the books through next season. His agent Andy Miller made noise about demanding a buy-out over the weekend, but that seems to have softened. If Billups is not on board, SB Nation blog Denver Stiffs is nonplussed about the lack of loyalty shown by the Nuggets' new regime.

[W]hen you include a player who is loyal to the city of Denver and has expressed a desire to stay long term (even talking about joining the front office) it is very unseemly to cast aside him to just facilitate a trade that will subject the people of Denver to bad basketball for the foreseeable future. Chauncey is owed the right to determine his own future to some extent. This trade proposal is just cynical.

Don't you think Chauncey deserves better than that?

This, of course, gets into a discourse on the power structure of the NBA, where players are making incredible strides against teams, as expertly laid out by our own Andrew Sharp today.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Nugget To Meet With Denver GM, Owner Soon To Talk Nets

Carmelo Anthony said on Monday he plans to meet with Denver Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri and owner Josh Kroenke soon to discuss rampant rumors he will be traded to the New Jersey Nets.

FanHouse's Chris Tomasson tweeted that 'Melo was in good humor after the team's light Monday practice. He commented on Chauncey Billups' future, saying that the local product "belongs in Denver." Billups is rumored to be another piece heading to the Nets in the reported deal.

Anthony was coy about whether he plans to sign an extension with New Jersey should he be traded. The Nets wouldn't trade Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and multiple first-round picks to Denver unless 'Melo agrees to a three-year extension. 'Melo has been reported to have wanted to play with friend Amar'e Stoudemire for the New York Knicks, but since September rumors have focused on the highly motivated (and rather terrible) Nets.

Tomasson tweeted:

Melo was asked if he would sign extension with NJ. "I really don't know. I'm waiting to see Masai and Josh... They haven't been here... So I'm just patiently waiting until they get back so I have a sitdown with them." Melo said there's no meeting scheduled yet. Melo was asked what he would say if presented with going to NJ: "After that meeting, I'll let you know how the meeting went."

Anthony had one of his worst games in recent memory Sunday night in Denver, scoring just eight points against the New Orleans Hornets. He and his teammates were booed persistently in the second half by the Nuggets' faithful. (Well, "faithful" doesn't seem like the right word there.)

Carmelo Anthony Trade Being Pushed By Mikhail Prokhorov, According To Report

If you're like me, you're probably wondering why the New Jersey Nets seem so willing to let the Denver Nuggets increase their demands in the latest Carmelo Anthony trade. Now, we may have an answer to that question. 

It appears that owner Mikhail Prokhorov, unsurprisingly, is desperate for a big splash and a superstar that he can market when the team moves to Brooklyn. According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Prokhorov's desire is so strong that he is "hellbent" on landing Anthony no matter what.

The thought of pulling out of the Anthony drama has crossed the minds of Nets GM Billy King and coach Avery Johnson, sources said. They aren't adverse to staying the course with Derrick Favors, the multiple draft picks and building a franchise a sure, methodical way.

Nevertheless, ownership is hellbent on acquiring Anthony. New owner Mikhail Prokhorov had talked a big game about making a splash over the summer and was shut out of the storied free-agent class. Prokhorov wants Anthony for the cachet he'll bring in the New York area, and, most of all, wants him for the team's 2012 move into the new Barclay Center in Brooklyn.

In fact, Prokhorov is so confident in his abilities that he was willing to trade for Anthony without assurances that he would sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension, according to Wojnarowski. Prokhorov, Wojnarowski writes, felt like he could have convinced Anthony to stay anyway, even without a guarantee. 

Perhaps this is why Denver keeps raising the demands for Anthony's services. If Prokhorov is willing to trade anything for him, why not make him pay?

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Continue, Devin Harris' Destination Remains Unknown

If Carmelo Anthony is traded to the New Jersey Nets as multiple outlets report may happen as soon as Monday, the fate of Nets point guard Devin Harris will be thrown into the air. Anthony would be joined by Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups in New Jersey, and Harris, a former All-Star, would be headed back to Denver.

The Nuggets, however, have sought the extricate from their cap sheet as much long-term salary as possible, with an attempt to shake loose from Al Harrington's tough deal reportedly the latest hold-up in 'Melo negotiations. Harris' contract is seen as rather fair commensurate to his production; he will make $9 million this season, and $17.8 million over the next two years.

But Denver has a young, cheap and promising point guard -- Ty Lawson -- to plug in once Billups departs. As age 23, Lawson seems more in line with the Nuggets' rebuild plans. Harris turns 28 in February.

As such, reports are surfacing that Harris may actually end up going to a fourth team in the deal, or could be flipped by Denver before the February 24 trade deadline. ESPN's Marc Stein reports that the Dallas Mavericks have discussed the possibility of bidding for Harris should he head to Denver as a part of the 'Melo trade.

Dallas is well aware that the Nuggets have little need for Harris thanks to the presence of the promising Ty Lawson and are looking to reduce their luxury-tax bill. Also: Harris can create his own shot and thus could provide one key offensive element Dallas has lacked since he left ... although there would be obvious questions about how well he could function alongside Kidd.

The Mavericks, who lost Caron Butler for the season due to a torn patella tendon earlier this month, are seen as needing one more perimeter scorer to make up the difference. Stud scoring guard Rodrigue Beaubois is due back from offseason foot surgery by the end of January, but Harris has more playoff experience (including being a major part of Dallas' NBA Finals run in 2006) and a history of success working with Dirk Nowitzki. Beaubois, in his second season, broke out a few times last season, but hasn't had a large set of NBA minutes to build on.

Harris is young enough to potentially interest non-playoff teams looking to build for next year, but also experienced enough to tempt contenders like Dallas.

For more on Harris and the Nets, visit Nets Daily. For all the least in this 'Melo trade talks, follow this StoryStream.

Carmelo Anthony Trade: Nuggets Want Nets To Take Back Al Harrington, Renaldo Balkman

The Denver Nuggets continue to try to add more pieces to the original Carmelo Anthony trade that looked to be imminent as of Sunday night. They appeared to work out a trade with the Nets and Pistons that would send Anthony to New Jersey, but now, they reportedly want the Nets to take back two more of their long-term contracts.

ESPN's Chris Broussard is reporting that the Nuggets are asking the Nets to take back both Al Harrington and Renaldo Balkman, and may ask them to surrender another first-round pick to do so. The Nets have already committed to trading Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow and two first-round picks to Denver for Anthony and Chauncey Billups, and have also agreed to send Troy Murphy and Johan Petro to Detroit for Rip Hamilton. If Harrington and Balkman need to be added, that will likely change the dynamics of the trade.

Harrington is in the first year of a five-year, $34 million contract, though the final two seasons are only 50 percent guaranteed. Balkman has two more years left on a three-year, $5 million contract. Combined, they would add an additional $7.5 million to the Nets' payroll, meaning New Jersey must send out a comparable amount to match salary. 

Carmelo Anthony Trade: Nuggets Reportedly Trying To Add More Pieces To The Deal

The Denver Nuggets continue to drive a hard bargain when it comes to trading Carmelo Anthony. As of Sunday night, it looked like they were closing in on a three-team trade that would send Anthony, Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups to the Nets, Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow and at least two first-round picks to the Nuggets and Troy Murphy and Johan Petro to the Pistons. But the Nuggets have reportedly backed away and are now trying to get even more value in return for Anthony.

According to CBS Sports' Ken Berger, the Nuggets are aiming for "one more quality young player and more cost savings" within the current framework of the trade, and if that fails, they will try to add more teams into the arrangement. 

The Nuggets, negotiating from a position of strength because they own the most coveted asset in the trade, are trying to extract one more quality young player and more cost savings from the current framework of the deal -- and if they can't do that, expand it or explore other scenarios to ensure they are getting the most assets possible for parting with their superstar.      

The Nuggets are not enamored of Harris, according to Berger, and are looking to find another team for him. They would like to send him to Portland in a package involving Nicolas Batum, according to Berger. They would also like to send away one of their other long-term contracts, such as Al Harrington or Renaldo Balkman. 

Despite these requests, talks between the Nuggets, Nets and Pistons have not yet broke down, according to Berger. However, frustration has begun to build up, and after a long weekend of discussions, the two teams are still in the "communicating" stages. Denver does not want to rush into a deal, but it remains to be seen how long the Nets and Pistons are willing to wait for them.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Reportedly Hinges On Al Harrington

The Denver Nuggets have held up a three-team trade that would send Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets in hopes that the Nets or another team will take back Al Harrington in the deal, according to a report by ESPN's Chris Broussard.

Reports suggest a three-team deal sending Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton, Troy Murphy to the Detroit Pistons and Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow and Devin Harris to the Denver Nuggets came close to consummation over the weekend, and could be finalized Monday. But Broussard reports that the Nuggets want New Jersey to accept Harrington in the deal. New Jersey, who will reportedly cough up multiple first-round picks to Denver in the deal, has balked.

Harrington signed a five-year, $33 million deal with the Nuggets this past offseason after a minor bidding war with the Dallas Mavericks. The contract was widely panned, especially considering that Denver has been forced to cut good salary in recent years in order to avoid the luxury tax. Only 50 percent of the final two years of Harrington's deal is guaranteed, which means that the contract can either be considered five years and $33 million or three years and $26 million. Either way, it's considered to be quite rich, especially in the current labor environment.

Harrington had been reported to be included in earlier incarnations of a 'Melo trade to the Nets, but wasn't mentioned in the latest round until Broussard's report.

For the latest news on the Carmelo Anthony trade front, follow this StoryStream.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Nearly Done, Nuggets And Nets Hammering Out Final Details

Carmelo Anthony will soon be traded to the New Jersey Nets, according to reports, as the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Nets hammer out the final details on a league-shifting three-team deal that could be completed on Monday.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Nets were surprised Denver allowed 'Melo and Chauncey Billups -- both headed to New Jersey in the reported deal -- to play in Sunday's night loss to the New Orleans Hornets. The Nets consider their job done in terms of creating a package to both convince the Nuggets to part with Anthony and to convince the star forward to sign a three-year extension with New Jersey.

Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record reports that the Nuggets are trying to squeeze just a bit more out of the Nets, drawing the ire of the experience New Jersey front office led by former Sixers GM Billy King.

The reported deal would also send Troy Murphy and Johan Petro to the Pistons, Shelden Williams and Rip Hamilton to the Nets and Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow, Devin Harris, Ben Uzoh and Quinton Ross to the Nuggets. Picks would also head Denver's way.

Follow this StoryStream for all the latest on the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Reportedly Close To Completion

The rumored mega-trade that could send Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets, with multple players from three teams being put in motion, is reportedly "very close" and "could be completed within the next 48 hours." The Nuggets, Nets and Detroit Pistons are all working with a massive amount moving parts, trying to get the money to line up, all centered around Anthony

The details break down as follows:

New Jersey Nets get: Carmlo Anthony, Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups.

Denver Nuggets get: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow and at least two first-round picks.

Detroit Pistons get: Troy Murphy and Johan Petro.

According to a report by Nets beat reporter Al Iannazzone, the deal is close to completion.

"It's pretty close," said one league source.

"Something could get done in the next 48 hours," another NBA source said.

With the magnitude of the proposed trade and the amount of contracts changing hands, the deal could fall apart at any moment. Still, this is the most encouraging sign we've seen so far that the Carmelo Anthony trade may yet happen.

Stay tuned to our StoryStream for the latest on the Carmelo Anthony trade as updates continue to roll in.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Could Involve 17 Players, At Least Four Teams

Carmelo Anthony trade talks could involve up to 17 players and at least four teams, according to reports. Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record reports that the New Jersey Nets are still working to pull the Detroit Pistons into a deal that would result in 'Melo moving to Newark, with Rip Hamilton believed to be the main draw for the Nets. Another team with a large trade exception or cap space, such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, would also likely be needed.

Iannazzone reports that in the most recent incarnation of the deal, Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, Stephen Graham, Ben Uzoh, Johan Petro, Quinton Ross and multiple draft picks would go to the Denver Nuggets and Pistons. That constitutes more than half of New Jersey's rosters. In return, the Nets would receive Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Shelden Williams and Terrico White, plus other unnamed players, possibly from other teams.

The Nets have been attempting to pry 'Melo from the Nuggets since the early fall, with a complex deal involving the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Bobcats having fallen through in October. Because of the assets the Nuggets have demanded in a 'Melo trade -- draft picks and young players -- New Jersey has had to recruit teams to help out. Multi-team deals in the NBA are incredibly difficult to pull off, especially with high-profile players and picks involved.

Iannazzone holds that no deal will go through unless 'Melo agrees to sign a contract extension with the Nets in advance. That the deal has been discussed as this deep and specific level indicates that Anthony has signed off on a long-term relationship with the Nets.

New Jersey is currently 10-27, five games out of the East's No. 8 playoff spot.

For more on the Nets, join Nets Daily and SB Nation New York. Follow this StoryStream for the latest updates on 'Melo trade talks.

Rip Hamilton Pitched To Nets As A Part Of Larger Carmelo Anthony Deal, Report Says

Carmelo Anthony's reps are pushing the New Jersey Nets to add veteran talent should they trade for the Nugget forward this season, and Pistons guard Rip Hamilton is at the top of the list, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Hamilton is readily available for acquisition, but Wojnarowski reports that New Jersey may be hesitant to move for the veteran due to the $21.5 million guaranteed to him after this season.

Hamilton will turn 33 next month.

Both Anthony and Hamilton are represented by Leon Rose of CAA; Hamilton has one of the league's strongest connections to Rose's partner "Worldwide" William Wesley. CAA also represents LeBron James and Chris Paul, among others, and Wojnarowski reports that CP3 would be the next big target of the Nets should 'Melo end up in Jersey (which will soon become Brooklyn).

That Anthony's representatives are seeking to influence the supporting talent New Jersey acquires to partner with 'Melo would indicate that the Nugget's camp is open to signing an extension with the Nets, a prerequisite for any trade sending Nets rookie Derrick Favors back to Denver.

Hamilton is averaging 13.7 points per game this season in Detroit. In 2004, he won a championship with Chauncey Billups, Anthony's Denver teammate who could also end up in New Jersey at the trade deadline.

Nuggets Want Five Picks From Nets In Carmelo Anthony Trade

If the Nets want Carmelo Anthony from the Nuggets, it will take five draft picks according to a report by Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski. New Jersey, who would also send Derrick Favors to Denver in any 'Melo deal, has apparently bristled at those demands.

The Nets have acquired a slew of picks in recent deals, including two in a trade that sent second-year player Terrence Williams to the Rockets. New Jersey's most valuable pick is its own 2011 first-round selection. The Nets are currently on pace to pick in the top 10, though trading from Anthony could improve the team's record enough to push that pick into the teens.

Wojnarowski reports that the Nets believe Denver's asking price to be too steep. Clearly, there's something holding up the deal, which has been rumored since October. Some reporters claim 'Melo has refused to sign an extension with the Nets, which would be a dealbreaker for New Jersey. Others believe the Nuggets and Nets are simply quibbling over price. Still others think the Nuggets are hoping some on-court success -- Denver is currently 18-13, No. 6 in the West -- and trepidation with the pending collective bargaining changes can cause 'Melo to sign the extension the team has left on the table for him.

Anthony had left the team last weekend to return to Baltimore in the wake of his sister's death. 'Melo returned to the team Thursday, and is expected to play Saturday as Denver hosts the Kings. Denver GM Masai Ujiri told reporters he had put a freeze on trade talks until Anthony's return.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Coming Soon? Nets Coach Talks To 'Certain Players' About Futures

As a Carmelo Anthony trade sending the All-Star forward to the New Jersey Nets begins to look more inevitable than ever, Nets coach Avery Johnson has begun to talk to "certain players" about their futures with the team, according to a report by Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record.

Iannazzone reports Johnson has spoken to point guard Devin Harris, who is rumored to be involved in the trade for Anthony. The Denver Nuggets, who have second-year point guard Ty Lawson serving as the heir apparent to veteran Chauncey Billups' spot, would not take back Harris; instead, the one-time All-Star would be used to pull a third or fourth team into the deal.

Johnson said he has not talked to any of the Nets' young players, which is code for Derrick Favors, the centerpiece of the deal for 'Melo. It's unclear what team is in the market for Harris, though an October rumor had Charlotte Bobcats picking him up and sending D.J. Augustin to New Jersey. Iannazzone reports, however, that the Nets will want to pick up a starting-level PG in a 'Melo trade should Harris be sent away; Augustin, as evidenced by Charlotte's 9-19 record, doesn't fit that bill.

Iannazzone also reports that the Dallas Mavericks are wedging themselves into the trade talks, and would not demand 'Melo sign an extension before executing a trade with the Nuggets. It's unclear exactly what the Mavericks could do to beat New Jersey's incredible offer. Rodrigue Beaubois is Dallas' best young prospect, and he's a solid tier or three below Favors in terms of potential.

Carmelo Anthony Trade: Nuggets, Nets Working On A New Multi-Team Deal, According To Report

In September, the Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets were working on a complicated four-team Carmelo Anthony trade scenario that eventually broke down because there were too many teams involved. Now, the Nuggets and Nets are at it again, and this time, the trade may be even more complex.

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that talks between the Nets and Nuggets have "advancing" as Denver now has more "sudden urgency" to move the disgruntled star. Multiple teams and players are expected to be involved, in a trade that one executive involved in both trade scenarios described as "a more complex, even bigger deal" than the one that broke down in December. It's not clear which specific players will go elsewhere, but the framework appears to be as follows:

For now, New Jersey general manager Billy King is preparing to send rookie forward Derrick Favors, the expiring contract of Troy Murphy, two or three future first-round draft picks and $3 million to Denver for minimally Anthony and [Al] Harrington. More Nuggets and Nets would likely be on the move, too.    

The Nets, according to Wojnarowski, would then move Devin Harris to a third team and take back a veteran leader, perhaps even Chauncey Billups. Denver is also looking to move J.R. Smith, with the Bulls still interested. However, those are all the details we have now. Wojnarowski reports that the deal isn't imminent, but could be completed in Janaury.

The Nets would try to sell Anthony on signing a long-term extension when he is eventually briefed about it, and owner Mikhail Prokhorov is expected to do so personally, but complicating matters is that there are reportedly two Western Conference playoff teams willing to acquire Anthony without him signing a new contract. The New York Knicks remain Anthony's preferred destination, but are still unable to put together the kind of trade package that would entice Nuggets officials.

For much more on this, head over to Nets Daily and Denver Stiffs.

Carmelo Anthony To Nets Trade Package Sweetened By Deal With Lakers

The New Jersey Nets traded Terrence Williams on Tuesday for picks and the expiring contract of Sasha Vujacic. On the surface, it simply appeared that the Nets had given up on the seemingly high-maintenance Williams, a 2009 late-lottery pick, and wanted to get out from his guaranteed $1.4 million due next season.

But the trade was really all about Carmelo Anthony.

As a payment for taking on Vujacic and saving L.A. major luxury tax dollars, the Lakers sent the Nets their own 2011 first-round pick, which should fall pretty close to No. 30. To get Williams, the Rockets sent New Jersey their 2012 first-round pick, which is lottery-protected for at least one year. After this trade, the Nets have four picks in the 2011 draft and six in 2012.

The Nets could use those picks. Or they could sweeten their offer to the Denver Nuggets in a trade for 'Melo.

SB Nation blog Nets Daily breaks down what the Nets could give Denver in a Carmelo Anthony trade:

Expect fast-moving developments as the Nets seek to acquire 'Melo by dangling multiple picks and Derrick Favors. The Nets reportedly will not deal Favors without an agreement by Anthony to sign a three-year $65 million contract extension. Although he reportedly wants to play for the Knicks, the Knicks cannot match the Nets' offer. The Nuggets reportedly want a deal heavy in draft picks. That could leave him in a quandary: either extend with the Nets and gain long-term security or wait to see what happens after the Collective Bargaining Agreement is negotiated, a risk that cost him millions.

The Nets' two most attractive assets other than Favors are their own 2011 pick and the Warriors' 2012 pick, which is protected through pick No. 7. Under the league's Stepien rule that restricts teams from trading away two consecutive first-round picks, the Nets could still offer up their own '11 pick, the Lakers' 2011 pick, the Rockets' 2012 pick and the Warriors' 2012 pick, plus as many second-round picks as the Nuggets can handle. In terms of draft picks, the Knicks can offer ... uh, their 2014 first-round pick. Given the strength of the Nets' package, there may soon come a time when the Nuggets start hanging up on the Knicks.

Carmelo Anthony Denies Knicks Trade Ultimatum

Carmelo Anthony denied he will only sign a contract extension this season if traded to the New York Knicks a day after ESPN reported Anthony's ultimatum. The Denver Nuggets' star small forward told FanHouse's Chris Tomasson that he hasn't told his team's management who he would be willing to sign an extension for.

"No," Anthony said when asked if there's any truth to it. "I haven't talked to Masai (Ujiri, the Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations) about who I would sign an extension with, and who I want to sign with. I've never had that conversation."

That 'Melo hasn't spoken to Ujiri about whether he would sign an extension with the Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Bobcats or Houston Rockets -- those are teams believed to be in the running, where "in the running" means "any remote pulse in the race for 'Melo" -- is completely normal. To do otherwise would be to play out free agency completely during the season, which simply isn't done.

LeBron James took eight days and more than six major meetings to figure out free agency, while ESPN and others are reporting that Anthony is doing it on the fly in midseason. That just doesn't make sense, but it won't stop the unstoppable Knicks rumors.

That said, given labor uncertainty past this season, Anthony is certainly under some pressure to sign an extension before season's end. That means committing to the middle-of-the-pack Nuggets or convincing the team to send him east.

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: 'Melo Would Sign Extension With Nets Or Knicks, Report Says

Despite an ESPN report claiming Carmelo Anthony would only sign a contract extension if traded to the New York Knicks, Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post reports that the New Jersey Nets remain a viable option for Melo.

ESPN's Chris Sheridan reported after Sunday's Nuggets-Knicks matinee that Anthony had narrowed his focus on the Knicks. Hochman cited sources who said, as has been the case as fall, the Nets remain a possibility, largely because the team has assets to pull off a midseason trade and is scheduled to move to Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season.

The Knicks have fewer tradable assets, and would have more trouble convincing the Nuggets to execute a trade. If the Nuggets don't trade Anthony this season, he could leave as an unrestricted free agent in July, barring an NBA lockout. In such a scenario, Denver would potentially get nothing in return, just as the Raptors and Cavaliers struck out with Chris Bosh and LeBron James last summer.

Throughout the preseason, the top rumor involved Melo heading to New Jersey for a package headlined by rookie Derrick Favors. The Knicks have no young player of Favors' repute, and would likely be hesitant to include sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari in a trade for Anthony when it appears so likely that New York could pick Melo up in free agency if no midseason trade goes down.

This season, Anthony is averaging 23.9 points a game. His Nuggets are 14-9, in sixth place in the West. The Knicks stand at 16-9 (fifth in the East) and the Nets are at 6-18 (tied for the second worst record in the NBA).

Carmelo Anthony Will Only Sign With Nuggets If Traded To Knicks, According To Report

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony has essentially demanded a trade to the New York Knicks, according to ESPN’s Chris Sheridan. Two months ago Anthony described the possibility of re-signing with the Nuggets as “an option,” which is still sort of technically the case. It’s just that actually playing for the Nuggets wouldn’t be an option.

Anthony was also quoted as saying he doesn’t think he’d be traded anywhere besides New York if he did sign, meaning it’s Knicks or bust at this point. We’ve known for months that Anthony is all but certain to leave the Nuggets, and that the Knicks have been at the front of the pack. Now it sounds like the Knicks are the entire pack.

The article’s source is described as using “the most definitive language possible” in describing the certainty of Anthony’s intentions, which surely involves some sort of hex or the words spoken at the creation of the universe or just an amazing amount of cussing.

For more on Anthony and the Nuggets, join Denver Stiffs. For more on the Knicks, join Posting And Toasting.

Report: Knicks Willing To Include Danilo Gallinari In Carmelo Anthony Trade

As mentioned earlier, the New York Knicks have taken the lead in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes after falling way behind earlier this month. One reason could be that they have softened their stance on including prized young small forward Danilo Gallinari in the trade.

Gallinari, the team's sixth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, emerged late last season, and the Knicks wanted to make him a piece of their core. But after an uneven preseason, there are indications that stance may be changing, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

According to a Knicks source, the club would include Gallinari in a potential deal for Anthony, a perennial All-Star.

Trading Gallinari, for all his gifts, may make sense, because he does play Anthony's position. The Knicks just have to decide whether Gallinari's poor preseason play is a sign of bad things to come in the regular season.

Carmelo Anthony On Possibility Of Re-Signing With Nuggets: 'It's An Option'

Carmelo Anthony's name continues to be tossed around in trade rumors, most recently ones involving the New York Knicks. For now, though, he's a member of the Denver Nuggets. When asked by Fanhouse's Chris Tomasson about the possibility of staying in Denver, Anthony said that it does remain an option.

"Yeah. That's keeping my options open,'' Anthony said when asked if re-signing with the Nuggets remains one of his options. "Yeah (it's an option). When that time comes, we'll discuss that.''    

Anthony is a free agent after the season, and the Nuggets have a three-year, $65 million contract extension on the table if he wishes to stay in Denver. However, he's yet to give any actual indication that he wants to do that, which explains the trade talk.

When asked whether he would be a member of the Nuggets when the season started, Anthony said he would be.

"I'm pretty sure I will,'' Anthony said of expecting to still be with the Nuggets for their regular-season opener. "That's a week from now. I'm here now.''     

That doesn't exactly sound like a ringing endorsement to me. 

Report: Knicks Making Progress On Trading For Carmelo Anthony

During the last round of Carmelo Anthony trade talks, the New York Knicks were an afterthought, mostly because it was believed that they couldn't put together a trade package to satisfy the Denver Nuggets. The Knicks, though, haven't given up, and according to ESPN's Chris Sheridan, they've leaped back into the lead in the Anthony sweepstakes.

The New York Knicks have made significant progress in recent days in their efforts to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, a source told ESPN.com Tuesday.

After a period of dormancy following the collapse of a four-team trade late last month betweenNew Jersey, Denver, Utah and Charlotte, the Knicks got back in on the bidding about two weeks ago after Anthony made it known to the Nuggets that he would not budge on his refusal to sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension with Denver.

The Knicks' offer doesn't appear to have changed much. Their package still centers around Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry's expiring contract and a first-round pick. The only thing that's changed is that they might be willing to include young small forward Danilo Gallinari, possibly as a means for acquiring another player from another team that might be more valuable to the Nuggets. 

The New Jersey Nets were once the front-runners in the Anthony sweepstakes, but ESPN's J.A. Adande reports that they are no longer willing to part with No. 3 overall draft pick Derrick Favors. The Chicago Bulls might still be involved, but their decision to re-sign center Joakim Noah complicates things.

Carmelo Anthony: 'I Never Said I Want To Play For The Nets'

It's been a few days since a four-way trade that would have sent Carmelo Anthony to the Nets was killed. It appears it was the Nuggets who called it off in hopes of convincing Anthony to stay in Denver, but if you read what Anthony said at Nuggets training camp yesterday, it may have actually been him who killed the trade.

During an exchange where Anthony was challenged about his commitment to winning over marketing, he was asked about how he can justify that when he reportedly was willing to sign an extension to the Nets. Via Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post. nthony, who has never gone public with his demands, was asked about his marketing prowess, and he said:

"As far as marketing, it comes from winning. If I ain't winning, then nobody wants me to market their product."

So he was asked: "Then why would you want to play for the team that won 12 games last season?"

Anthony then said: "I never said I want to play for the Nets."

It's worth noting that Anthony said he never "said" he wanted to play for the Nets, which is accurate because, publicly, he's said nothing about a trade demand. However, if Anthony's actions indeed backed up his words, this report is untrue. 

Nets' Four-Team Deal For Carmelo Anthony Is Officially Dead

The longer a blockbuster trade sits and waits, the better the chance it will fall apart. Sick of waiting for the Nuggets to figure out how they want to proceed, the Nets put the kibosh on the deal rumored Carmelo Anthony trade.

The Nets source said this afternoon that the four-team trade was off the table just hours after the Nets issued a 24-hour deadline for Denver to comply. The team source confirmed that the trade rumors had become too much of a distraction, at least for the near future. Rookie forward Derrick Favors and point guard Devin Harris have been forced to answer non-stop questions about their future since the rumors circulated Friday, as they are the chips that would send Anthony to the Nets.

According to one NBA source, the deal may also have been sidetracked by Denver’s insistence that the Nets take on oft-injured forward Kenyon Martin in exchange for Troy Murphy, in addition to the other players involved.

The Nuggets remain steadfast in their desire to keep Anthony in Denver. Coupled with Carmelo’s recent comments that he never demanded a trade, it’s beginning to look like he’ll be staying put for the time being. Still, the Knicks will certainly remain interested in acquiring the All-Star.

Denver Stiffs will have all the updates and opinion on the near-trade and its fallout.

As Rumors Persist, Carmelo Anthony Remains A Nugget: But For How Long?

At the Denver Nuggets media day this afternoon, Carmelo Anthony explained to reporters, "I never said anything about getting traded. I never once said anything about trade talk."

Of course he didn't. According to NBA rules regarding player tampering, the mere mention of trade rumors would have gotten him fined. That includes today's media session in Denver. Had Carmelo gone in front of reporters and demanded a trade, he would have left himself vulnerable to discipline from the league office. He spoke for a few minutes, and left.

So is it any wonder that today's media day in Denver produced no new insights into Carmelo's current situation with the Nuggets? I mean... What did people expect? For that, we go to people like Ken Berger at CBS. Could the Knicks be involved here? Berger writes:

As the Nets' deal moved closer to completion Monday, one team sources say is more involved than commonly thought is the Knicks. After New York fell short in its pursuit of LeBron James and/or Dwyane Wade, it would be devastating for the Knicks to watch Anthony go to their cross-river rival--especially since that rival is moving into the city limits to Brooklyn in two years. While Knicks president Donnie Walsh has been in far from panic mode, he has been "working every angle" in an effort to get back in the game with Anthony, according to a rival executive familiar with Walsh's approach.

"He's the master," the executive said. "I'll put it this way: If there's any way to get something done that he feels good about, he'll get it done. He'll leave no stone unturned."

With all the balls in there at this point--four-team trades, agents talking through those fabled "back-channels", coaches and players pretending that Carmelo wants to be there--this charade could end any number of ways. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the 76ers have dangled Andre Iguodala:

Reports: Nets Still Working To Land Carmelo Anthony, Sixers Now Talking About Moving Andre Iguodala

It's been a bit of a quiet weekend on the Carmelo Anthony trade front.

Yahoo and Adrian Wojnarowski have been assiduously covering every detail of the negotiations, and providing incremental updates. The Nets wanted a point guard to replace Devin Harris, perhaps Charlotte's D.J. Augustin. Marc Spears says Kobe Bryant has urged 'Melo not to force a trade just to make a change. Though the Nuggets think the Nets' deal is their best package, Anthony has pushed them to reconsider the Knicks. The Nuggets are now trying to dump more salary in the deal.

It's hard to know what's important and what's white noise. It's not about to get easier, either: the Philadelphia 76ers are apparently in on the trade talks, too.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that, according to one Western Conference exec, the Nuggets and Sixers are discussing a deal that would bring Anthony to Philly and send Andre Iguodala to Denver.

I eagerly anticipate whatever happens. And at this point, I have no idea what it will be.

Report: Carmelo Anthony Approves Trade To Nets

A report has emerged on Friday night that the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony has approved a trade that would send him to the Nets. From The NY Daily News' Stefan Bondy:

Reliable source: Carmelo has approved the deal to the Nets.

If Anthony did indeed approve the arrangement, he was evidently satisfied with the prospect of signing a contract extension with the Nets, which seemed to be the major hurdle.

This, of course, does not mean that the deal is done. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates.

For more on these teams, check out our Nets blog, NetsDaily, and our Nuggets blog, Denver Stiffs.

Report: Carmelo Anthony Trade To Nets Hinges On Contract Extension

The New Jersey Nets continue to work with the Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz and Charlotte Bobcats to complete a complicated Carmelo Anthony trade. Talks are continuing, though nothing has been completed. However, the biggest hold-up, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, is that Anthony has to agree to a contract extension with the Nets that will keep him there beyond next season.

One of the final significant hurdles for a blockbuster four-team trade that would send Carmelo Anthony(notes) to theNew Jersey Nets hinges on the All-Star forward's willingness to agree to a contract extension with the Nets, two front-office executives involved in the deal told Yahoo! Sports.  

It's still unclear whether Anthony will agree to that, though earlier reports suggested he was warming up to the idea.

The full deal, as of right now, involves Anthony heading to New Jersey; 2010 first-round pick Derrick Favors, Andrei Kirilenko, the Nets' 2011 first-round pick and their 2012 top-seven protected first round pick originally acquired from Golden State heading to Denver; Devin Harris heading to Charlotte; and Boris Diaw heading to Utah. The Nets also want D.J. Augustin from the Bobcats, but Charlotte has been reluctant to deal him.

Report: Nets Working On Multi-Team Trade To Acquire Carmelo Anthony

A couple days ago, we noted that the New Jersey Nets have become the leader, in most people's eyes, in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes. Now, the Nets are making progress on putting some sort of trade with the Denver Nuggets -- and other teams -- together.

Via Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski:

The New Jersey Nets are working feverishly to acquire All-Star Carmelo Anthony and are in the construction stage of a complicated, multi-team trade, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Nothing is imminent in the next 24 hours, but Denver and New Jersey are having ongoing discussions centered on No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors and future first-round picks going back to the Nuggets. The two teams are engaging third - and possibly even fourth teams - to complete what one front-office source described as a "very complicated" deal.

ESPN's Marc Stein is reporting the other teams involved in the proposed trade are Utah and Charlotte. The Nuggets would receive Favors from the Nets, Andrei Kirilenko and his expiring contract from the Jazz and multiple first-round picks. Stein also reports that the Nets would send Devin Harris to the Bobcats, with Boris Diaw going to the Jazz. 

From this vantage point, that seems like a lot for the Nets to give up for Anthony.

Anthony had previously only been willing to sign a contract extension with the Knicks or Bulls, but according to Wojnarowski's report, he is now "more comfortable" with signing an extension with the Nets if he is traded there. 

SB Nation's Nets blog Nets Daily is concerned about the inclusion of Favors in a potential Anthony trade, noting that most recent trades involving superstar players do not involve high draft picks like him. 

So if Favors were included in a deal for Anthony, it would not fit with the recent history of big trades.  And note as well that this would most likely have to be a sign-and-trade, meaning Anthony would have to agree to go along.  Is he likely to agree to a lop-sided trade where his new team would be giving up key pieces? You'd think not.    

Report: Knicks, Bulls Remain Atop Carmelo Anthony's Trade Wish List

Carmelo Anthony's message has remained pretty consistent through all this trade talk. Yesterday, according to an ESPN report, Anthony's camp reiterated, through sources, that his top two preferred destinations are New York and Chicago.

However, the Denver Nuggets still are not rushing to make a deal, even though they have begun to listen to trade offers. Via Marc Stein and Chad Ford:

Over the last 72 hours, sources said, Anthony's representatives -- headed by agent Leon Rose -- have been ramping up the pressure on the Nuggets to complete a deal with the Knicks or the Bulls before training camps open leaguewide next week.

Sources say that Denver officials, however, are not inclined to rush into anything. 

[...]

The Nuggets, sources said, are clinging to the hope that Anthony might reconsider his trade-me stance once he starts hearing some Denver-friendly voices upon reporting to camp after weeks of isolation from the organization. 

It's the right approach, especially considering Anthony's isolation from the team. He hasn't really allowed the Nuggets to make their pitch, but assuming he shows up to training camp, he'll have no choice but to listen.

The other problem for Anthony is that his preferred destinations don't really have a lot to offer. The Bulls have been (correctly, I think) unwilling to throw blossoming center Joakim Noah into any trade, and the Knicks lack draft picks and as promising a group of young players as other teams around the league. In fact, it's the Knicks' rival, the New Jersey Nets, that most league observers believe can offer the best package for the Nuggets.

ESPN.com reported Monday that the Nets are widely regarded in NBA front-office circles as the frontrunner for Anthony. New Jersey is reportedly willing to package No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors with the expiring contracts of Troy Murphy and Kris Humphries and at least one future first-rounder.    

However, according to a report by Fred Kerber of the New York Post, the Nets remain "cautious" with any Anthony trade scenarios, and would only make a move if they have assurances that Anthony would sign a long-term contract extension. ESPN's Chris Broussard, speaking on television, reported that Anthony actually vetoed a proposed trade to the Nets last season, according to SB Nation's Nets blog Nets Daily.

The other team in the picture is the Houston Rockets, but it appears like they're a distant player because they seem unwilling to part with Kevin Martin. Also, the Nuggets would like to send Anthony to the Eastern Conference, if possible. 

SB Nation's Nuggets blog, upon hearing the Nets were the "favorites," solicited its readers for some Nets trade scenarios, which you can find here. SB Nation Denver has a roundup of all the latest rumors here. 

Report: Nuggets Softening Stance, Listening To Trade Offers For Carmelo Anthony

In yet another indication that it's a matter of when, not if Carmelo Anthony is traded, the Denver Nuggets have reportedly begun to listen to trade offers for the disgruntled star, according to ESPN's Marc Stein and Chad Ford.

The Nuggets still aren't aggressively shopping Anthony and haven't withdrawn their longstanding offer of a contract extension, but numerous sources told ESPN.com that Denver officials have in recent days let other teams know for the first time that they will listen to pitches after previously resisting such discussions.    

The Nuggets, according to Ford and Stein, are determined not to suffer the same fate the Raptors and Cavaliers did when they lost Chris Bosh and LeBron James. If Anthony is indeed on the way out, they want to receive value for him in the form of players, not trade exceptions. Anthony has reportedly still not met with new general manager Masai Ujiri, which is undoubtedly increasing Denver's urgency to make a deal.

The Nuggets reportedly want one top-flight young player, salary-cap relief and multiple draft picks. Many teams can put together a package like that. Those teams include:

• Chicago, though they seem unwilling to deal Joakim Noah.
• Houston, who could provide many of the top picks they received from the Knicks last year.
• The LA Clippers, who could trade someone like Eric Gordon and a package of picks.
• Minnesota (don't laugh), who has young players like Kevin Love, Wesley Johnson and even Ricky Rubio, as well as picks.
• New Jersey, who can deal Brook Lopez, or if not him, first-round pick Derrick Favors.
• New York, though they lack a lot of draft picks.
• Philadelphia, if they are willing to potentially give up on Evan Turner so quickly. They also have Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Marreese Speights. 
• Sacramento, though Anthony doesn't appear to be a good match with Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins.

Those teams would have to immediately give Anthony a contract extension, which means Anthony holds a little bit of leverage in the situation. Nobody has emerged as a frontrunner yet, but the Nuggets certainly have many suitors for Anthony's services.

Another Report Suggests A Carmelo Trade Is Imminent For The Nuggets

On the heels of reports that emerged a few weeks ago regarding rumored discord between Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets, it seems the situation is getting worse, not better.

The source is Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, who's been in the midst of a crusade against Anthony's representation—who also advise Chris Paul and LeBron James—so take it for what you will. But if you can look past the resentful sentences like this:

Yes, this is how William Wesley and Leon Rose of CAA work now, thick with threats and ultimatums and a swagger suggesting that the sport belongs to them.

...The paragraphs like this speak volumes about the situation in Denver:

Anthony wants to leave Denver and get his three-year, $65 million contract extension now. This partnership is rounding third and rapidly reaching disrepair. Denver is willing to trade Anthony, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin, and start over again, sources said.

The Nuggets made it clear to teams they want young players and draft picks for Anthony, league executives said. The New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the two most probable destinations for Anthony because they have assets that appeal to Denver.

The reporter in question may have his own biases, but it appears he's got a scoop here, as well. The Nuggets and Carmelo look farther apart than ever before, and Wojnarowski lists several teams that, according to sources, would appeal to Carmelo.

Aside from the favorites (Nets, Clippers), Golden State, Houston, and Charlotte each have a chance at the superstar, according to the Yahoo! report. Notably absent on that list? The New York Knicks. It's still early, of course, and Denver appears open to fielding offers from just about anyone. Now that it's clear that Carmelo could be had for the right price, who knows which team might step up?

Anthony's representation would like to control the trade negotiations, but that doesn't seem likely, as the Nuggets management seems less than receptive to the bullying tactics from Carmelo's (and LeBron's) reps. But to focus on what we've learned...

"Where will Carmelo go?" Last week, that felt like a fun hypothetical.

This week, it sounds closer to inevitable.

Carmelo Anthony will go, it's just a matter of when, for what, and to whom. Wow.

A Closer Look At The Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors

Don't get me wrong. I love trade rumors as much as the next guy, but Tom Ziller raises a good point at AOL Fanhouse this morning. He asks, "Haven't we learned anything from The Decision?" And continues:

Apparently not, with ESPN's Ric Bucher breathlessly reporting Monday that sources say Melo is not long for Denver. This is the same Bucher, of course, who swore two ways to Wilshire Kobe Bryant would be dealt before the start of the 2007-08 season (false) and who -- just days before the actual Decision -- swore up and down Broadway there was no way LeBron would consent to pip status as Wade's teammate in Miami.

Not to besmirch Bucher -- I'm just saying that when your record is perhaps spotty, you need more than what Ric is giving here. And what's he giving? One source who said Anthony either won't sign his extension, or will sign it and demand a trade. The same source is convinced of this because Anthony didn't stop his friends from cracking wise about the Nuggets and Melo's aforementioned wedding.

Indeed, it's worth mentioning that Bucher's not exactly Nostradamus over here, and if there's one thing the Summer of LeBron has proven, it's that none of us really has any clue as to how this stuff might play out. It's not to say that Carmelo Anthony won't part ways with Denver at some point over the next 12 months--I think he will--but it's worth mentioning that Bucher's journalistic authority doesn't exactly prompt a tectonic shift in the narrative here. Or it shouldn't, if we're looking at the situation objectively.

We still don't know what Carmelo's thinking, and Ric Bucher's "source" has done nothing more than interpret writing that's been on the wall for a few months now.

Then again... It's August, and what else are we going to talk about?

Could Chris Paul get the running mate he's wanted all along?

Think about it: Denver gets Peja's expiring contract, a two-year flier on David West, Quincy Pondexter, and New Orleans' 2011 first round pick. They get rid of Nene's deal, and begin the rebuilding process in earnest. New Orleans gets a superstar to pair with Chris Paul, and suddenly, the Hornets look a lot like contenders in the West.

You can mull over more scenarios with ESPN's Trade Machine. It's a fun (and seriously addictive) way to pass the time. Just remember what you're doing, though: Imagining possibilities and solutions to a situation that we don't know much about. Just like Ric Bucher.

Report: Carmelo Anthony Likely To Leave Nuggets Instead Of Signing Extension

The big fish in the 2011 NBA free agent class is clearly Denver star Carmelo Anthony. Anthony has declined to offer any sort of commitment to the Nuggets, and silence speaks volumes. The Nuggets have offered him a three-year maximum contract extension, hoping that Anthony might be worried about losing money with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement likely in place. 

That complication still exists, but signs continue to point to Anthony being on another team next year. ESPN's Ric Bucher is reporting that it's now a matter of when, not if, Anthony is moved to another team.

Anthony is weighing whether to sign a three-year, $65 million extension offered by the Nuggets. His dilemma, league sources say, is what affords him the best chance of continuing his career elsewhere. Anthony could sign with Denver and convince the team to then trade him. His other option would be to not sign the extension, thereby forcing the team to move him rather than risk losing him next summer as a free agent.

During his annual basketball camp in Colorado on Saturday, Anthony said he had no timetable on when he'll decide whether to sign the extension.

In either case, "he's going to make it real clear that he's not coming back," said one league source.

Bucher also reports that Anthony and Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke know they're not long for each other, especially after many people were trying to convince Anthony to leave Denver at Anthony's July 11 wedding. 

Obviously, talk of trading the face of the franchise is tough for fans, but SB Nation's Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs has a passionate argument for why the Nuggets need to trade Anthony now while they have leverage. 

The Nuggets have a lot of leverage if they act sooner than later.  First, and make no mistake about it, Melo wants his money and the guaranteed years sure to be wiped away in the new collective bargaining agreement...and only the Nuggets can max him out (dollars + years) under the current agreement, likely to change for the worse for players effective July 1, 2011.  Second, a team that could potentially secure Melo's services would rather do so now than risk ending up empty handed next summer.  And third, by acknowledging that a trade is possible ensures that Melo will go to the highest bidder.      

[...]

If you're the Clippers, would you give up Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon (plus the requisite contracts to make the dollars match up) to secure Melo now?  Or at least Chris Kaman and Gordon?  If you're the Nets, would you ship away Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and throw in a first round pick today?  If you're the Lakers, would you part with Andrew Bynum plus anyone not named Kobe or Gasol (as Nate suggested a few weeks ago)?  If you're the Knicks...well, you're screwed in this scenario because you have nothing to offer other than Anthony Randolph and first round picks 20 years from now.        

For more, visit SB Nation Denver and Denver Stiffs.

Report: Carmelo Anthony Will Not Sign Extension With Nuggets, Become Free Agent In 2011

Prepare for the Summer of Carmelo. Indeed, what LeBron was to 2010, Carmelo figures to be to 2011. At least, if a report from HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy is to be believed. According to Kennedy, sources close to Anthony have indicated that the Nuggets star will eschew signing an extension with Denver in order to become a free agent next summer.

Given that Anthony has had a max offer on the table from the Nuggets for the past several weeks, it would hardly be surprising that he would not re-sign with Denver now; if he was going to, he likely already would have. Still, Anthony has at least the rest of the season to mull over the Nuggets' offer. The bigger issue is that there will likely be a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) next summer (and possibly a lockout), that would presumably limit the size of contracts. By waiting to sign, Anthony could be forgoing a sizable chunk of change. Again according to Kennedy, Anthony isn't too worried about these risks, and prefers the freedom of free agency to the certainty of an extension.

If Anthony does reach free agency, he will be the undisputed prize among a class that will lack the depth of this past year's loaded crew. The Knicks, in particular, have made no secret of how much they covet the former Syracuse star. A final sign of which way Anthony may be leaning are reports that he has put his Denver home up for sale....

For more on Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets, check out Denver Stiffs.