Not only could the Nets lose out on Carmelo Anthony, if they’re not careful, he could wind up with the Knicks, Yahoo! Sports reports..
According to the report, “The Denver Nuggets delivered a stern warning to the New Jersey Nets: Unless the public nature of these trade discussions becomes private, be warned that we will send Anthony to the New York Knicks.”
A three-team, 14-player trade involving the Nets, Nuggets and Pistons including Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton was believed to be close to completion Sunday, but Denver reportedly keeps tweaking the deal.
The process is dragging and the optimism that pervaded the Nets organization has taken a hit, though there is still a belief the deal can get done, despite growing annoyance on both sides, especially with the public posture the talks have assumed.
NBA sources said nothing was imminent, and Nets coach Avery Johnson said he expected his team to remain the same during a four-game west-coast trip that ends next week.
One source who had been optimistic sounded far more doubtful Monday. Reports said the Nuggets were insistent on reworking the framework of players involved, wanting to shed salary by shipping out Al Harrington and his $26 million over four years. Denver also seeks an additional first-round pick.
It is believed the Knicks do not have enough assets to make a deal attractive to the Nuggets.
The Yahoo! report says Knicks president Donnie Walsh has asked Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri for a list of what it would take to complete a deal, “whether it be draft picks or specific players from other teams, (but) sources said Ujiri has been unresponsive.”
Another plot twist came Monday night with several reports that the Rockets, with chips such as Yao Ming’s $17.7 million expiring contract and several first-round picks, have entered the scene for the star forward.
The Nets have been confident all along that if they can get a deal in place, Anthony would agree to a three-year, $65 million contract extension, which the Nuggets have offered since June.
In Denver, Anthony reiterated to reporters that he did not expect a trade to happen this week and said he expects to play tonight against the Suns.
“That’s just my feeling,” said Anthony, who is believed to prefer the Knicks over any other team. “I don’t think so. I don’t want to elaborate on that anymore. That’s just my personal feeling. … It could go on to the [Feb. 24] trade deadline.”