RE-SIGN WITH THE NUGGETS
He gets $83 million guaranteed — $18 million next season plus $65 million in a three-year extension.
SIGN-AND-TRADE
Anthony signs extension with Nuggets, guaranteeing him max money, under the pretext that he will be traded. The Knicks and Nets are the two leading teams for his services under this scenario. Anthony’s preference has been the Knicks, but the Nets’ offer is more appealing to Denver. Anthony can dictate where he wants to go by refusing the extension. The Nets, for one, will not trade for him without his prior agreement.
TRADE WITH NO EXTENSION
A team may trade for Anthony without re-signing him, essentially renting him for the remainder of the season and hope to later convince him to stay. But Anthony yesterday said he does not want to do this, and the Nuggets’ return in trade would not be as impressive.
OPT-OUT OF CONTRACT
He can choose to forego the final year of his deal and enter free agency. If his lone desire was to play for the Knicks, this would be the way to go. But Anthony would be risking millions — maybe as much as $40 million by some estimates. With a new Collective Bargaining Agreement due, lockout or not, the owners want limits on length of contracts while restricting dollar amounts.