As a service to a public that every now and then ought to have fact separated from fiction, we hold these truths regarding the unending Nets-Nuggets negotiations involving Carmelo Anthony and his inevitable trade to be self-evident:
Anthony will not be with the Nuggets at the conclusion of the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Three or four weeks ago, I was convinced he was about to join New Jersey. But the Nets keep losing and their first-round pick (part of Denver’s care package) keeps getting more valuable. So, why rush? Keep delaying and you never know how bad the Nets can get.
It is immaterial that so many people (especially Knicks fans) can’t comprehend why Anthony would want to sign a three-year extension with a dilapidated team in need of major roster renovations. The reality is, he has given his approval.
You don’t need an infallible source (though a couple have been nice enough to confirm) to know there’s no resistance to residing in the Garden State. If there was, Anthony’s agent, Leon Rose, would have informed the Nuggets and Nets months ago they were wasting their time.
Rose also represents Rip Hamilton. The Pistons guard is happy about the prospect of teaming up again with Chauncey Billups as part of the proposed three-team, 14-player transaction. That would be no joy if the Nets starting small forward wasn’t going to be Anthony.
While on the subject, Billups is not opposed to becoming a Net. Yes, he’d prefer to play in his hometown of Denver. But the Nuggets surely will buy out the final year ($14.2 million) of his contract for the prearranged price of $3.75 million. The Nets view Billups, who turns 35 on Sept. 25, as an important complementary piece to Anthony, physically and emotionally, as well as enhancing their ability to win while rebuilding.
Hence, the Nets plan to pay Billups his full wages.
There has never been an agreement on Anthony between the Nuggets and the Nets. Not during preseason! Not Saturday! Not Sunday! Not yet! Maybe today. Maybe not until the Nets conclude their four-game western swing, beginning tomorrow in Phoenix, in Oakland on Jan. 17 . . . and there’s time for a multitude of players to switch sides. Maybe never.
The Nuggets never pulled out of any deal because — I repeat, for those slow on the uptake — the two adult teams never have consented to one.
The Nets never entered into any deal obviously because none of the profusion of discussed scenarios is completely satisfactory. They’re simply trying to protect enough assets to construct something special as quickly as possible, whereas the Nuggets are trying to acquire as many assets for the same purpose.
They are not that far apart. Draft picks are the holdup — which ones to protect and how deep into the draft, overall? The Nets own a half-dozen No. 1 picks over the next three drafts, their three, the Lakers’ this June and Houston’s and Golden State’s next June.
The longer these talks drag on, of course, the more time the Knicks have to obtain a draft pick or two that might appeal as much to the Nuggets as what the Nets are offering. That means swapping vital product in terms of productive talent since their own — this year’s that Houston already has dibs to exchange for its own on and 2014 — are relatively worthless.
What the Knicks do have is no-maintenance Wilson Chandler, whose value keeps increasing in quantum leaps. Before the season, even six weeks ago, the Nuggets had little interest in accepting the rising restricted free agent as partial payment for Anthony. That’s not so anymore.
Yes, they’d have to reward him with a significant contract, but the salary scale on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement figures to be a lot lower.
But whereas the Knicks might have the goods to appease the Nuggets somewhat with a replacement forward, and may be able to get them a suitable draft pick, the Nets can do that and more: surrender promising flex forward Derrick Favors, save salary and spare management the awkwardness of having to bounce Billups.
Not that the Nets and Knicks are Anthony’s sole suitors. The Nuggets have other options — Houston, Dallas and a couple others I’m in the dark about. However, Anthony’s unwillingness to sign an extension with any team other than the Nets or Knicks all but kills those alternatives. The Rockets and Mavs swear they don’t care and are willing to take the chance he’ll change his mind once he comes on board. Still, neither team has the available assets to compete with the Nets. If only that counted for something in the standings.
The Pistons are amenable to taking Troy Murphy’s expiring contract ($11.968 million) and the remainder of Johan Petro’s three-year, $10.2 million mistake. Tayshaun Prince is involved in talks.
Neither Cleveland nor Portland is involved in the deal.
Don’t look now: The Nuggets have turned into the Nets anyway, laying down in their last three games — at the Clippers, at the Kings and vs. the Hornets.
What’s more, Anthony has amped it up to the tune of 2-for-8 from the field against New Orleans, and 3-for-27 from deep since late November.
Seems like the perfect time to trade him, ’cause it won’t be such an insult to his innards.