The Decision, the sequel, is expected to come today for the Nets.
Carmelo Anthony is expected to inform the Nets by today at the latest whether or not he will accept a trade to New Jersey and sign an extension to play there, sources told The Post last night.
The Nets and Nuggets have a deal in place pending Anthony’s willingness to sign an extension. The Knicks and Nuggets also have the basic framework of a deal that has been worked on all weekend.
After the face-to-face meeting finally took place Saturday between Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and Anthony, initial reports suggested the Russian billionaire’s team was out of the hunt for the Nuggets star. Anthony was described as “non-committal,” maybe even unimpressed.
But other indications say the opposite. Prokhorov himself described the meeting as “fantastic” in an interview yesterday with CNBC and several league sources insisted the Nets are still in the running to land Denver’s star forward. One source claimed an “air of optimism” remained around the Nets.
“Don’t bury them yet,” a source involved in the process urged. Another suggested although there might not be anything significant at the moment, that could change.
And whether Anthony goes to the Nets, goes to the Knicks, extends his contract with Denver or stays with the Nuggets and opts for free agency (which means gambling with almost half of his $83 million guaranteed), it will be resolved soon, some think today. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m.
Anthony said he wanted resolution by the end of All-Star weekend, but while he was sitting on the Western Conference bench during the third quarter last night, he told TNT’s Craig Sager he would be with the Nuggets tomorrow for their game against Memphis.
That doesn’t bode well for the Nets.
“[Monday] will determine the fate,” said one source, noting the President’s Day holiday, when trade conference calls aren’t made, “buys Denver one more day to press the issue.”
Prokhorov, asked by The Post to gauge the Nets’ chances of landing Anthony, said: “It’s not a lottery. I don’t know.”
In the interview with CNBC, Prokhorov said his first instinct was to avoid making the trade, given what Denver wanted in return for Anthony. He said that after Nets general manager Billy King set up the meeting, he decided it was best to talk to Anthony.
“I was convinced and I still think I’m right to stay away, but we have teamwork so sometimes we need to be all together,” Prokhorov told CNBC.
On Saturday, Anthony met with Prokhorov, King, Nets part-owner and advisor Jay-Z and CEO Brett Yormark in Los Angeles. Prokhorov no doubt pitched his global vision while all on hand stressed the importance of the team’s move to Brooklyn, scheduled for the 2012-13 season.
“I had a very good meeting, trying to be friendly and relaxed,” Prokhorov told The Post. “I have a great feeling all the time, every minute of my life. I have an express feeling only towards women, but this is a business deal. You have no feeling. Time will tell.”
Prokhorov told CNBC: “It was a fantastic meeting, trust me. . . . We looked into each other’s eyes. Just real man talk.”
From the start, the Nets’ position has been to not accept a trade without Anthony first agreeing to sign a three-year, $65 million extension, which has been on the table since June. Reports have swirled that Anthony would not agree to extend with the Nets, but team sources always have maintained they never heard that directly from him. And why would the Nets ever go this far if they didn’t believe he would sign?
The Nuggets have been said to prefer the Nets’ offer over the Knicks’ proposal. The Nets offered rookie Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris, Troy Murphy and his expiring $11.9 million contract and rookie guard Ben Uzoh, plus four first round picks, pending Anthony’s agreement. The picks include the Nets’ own choice in June’s NBA Draft, plus three picks acquired in trades, all with protections. They come from the Lakers (2012, protected to pick No. 18), the Warriors (2012, protected to No. 7) and the Rockets (2011, lottery protected). That’s hardly a painful yield to get a player of Anthony’s stature.
In return, the Nets would get Anthony, point guard Chauncey Billups, forwards Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams and center-forward Melvin Ely. If all remained, that would bring the roster for coach Avery Johnson’s 17-40 team to 15 players.
fred.kerber@nypost.com