Denver’s asking price for Carmelo Anthony is more outlandish than previously thought.
The Post has learned the Nuggets made a whopping demand one week ago that is more exorbitant than recent reports. According to an NBAÂ source debriefed on Carmelo Anthony negotiations, Denver asked for Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and a first-round pick (obtained via Anthony Randolph) for Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups.
Yes, it looks like the Nuggets demanded everything but James Dolan’s Radio City Music Hall.
Knicks management was flabbergasted, according to the league source. They fear such a proposal meant the Nuggets really didn’t want to do a deal with the Knicks. Not much has changed since, though the Knicks believe the Nuggets eventually will soften on taking either Gallinari or Chandler, not both. (Eddy Curry’s contract must be included for the salary-cap numbers to work).
Meanwhile, the Nuggets and Nets have re-engaged in trade talks
— which has seemed inevitable — throwing another wrench in the Knicks’ bid.
As of now, the Knicks and Nuggets head to the All-Star break with a wide chasm, and Knicks’ fans crossing their fingers that the team can snag Anthony before next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. Denver’s talks with the Nets are viewed by some as a ploy to get Knicks president Donnie Walsh to give up the farm.
“They want everything,” the league source said of Denver. “The Knicks didn’t even have to sit down and talk about that offer. It’s not even logistically possible. They’d have two miserable stars with nothing around them.”
The Nuggets feel they can package some of those players in trades for better draft picks.
With the trade deadline seven days away, the Knicks hope to continue talks with the Nuggets. If there’s no Knicks deal and Anthony stays in Denver, Walsh probably will try to trade for a center (Jeff Foster, Joel Przbyilla) and wield his salary-cap space this summer for Anthony, who could be a free agent.
Last night, in a telling remark before the Knicks beat the Hawks 102-90 at the Garden to enter the All-Star Break at 28-26, Walsh said, “At the end of the trade, we have to look at it and say, ‘Are we a good basketball team?’ “
Thus far, Denver has made it easy for Walsh to say no.
“Maybe they [the Nuggets] just don’t want to do it,” the league source said. “Didn’t they do that with the Nets? When you keep asking for more until you say no, maybe you don’t want to do it. Maybe they want to go to the playoffs with Anthony and call [Carmelo’s] bluff on June 30 (when he would become a free agent).”
Another NBA executive said he believes the Nuggets still aren’t convinced Anthony will definitely leave them and want more certainty.
The Knicks would consider the Felton-Billups element as long as there’s not too many pieces involved. Billups, 34, is best in a slower offense, but his contract expires in time for the Knicks to make a run at Hornets star Chris Paul in 2012.
D’Antoni likes Billups, “and it’s not like they’re running up and down every play,” the league source said. “But he really likes Felton. It’s a matter of how far they’re willing to go to get that piece and where’s the cut-off line.”
A package of Chandler, Felton and Fields for Anthony and Billups is a scenario the Knicks “would have to sit down and discuss,” the source said. That would put them in great position for Paul. But the clubs aren’t at that point.
There are suggestions owner James Dolan is pressuring Walsh to give up what it takes.
But the league source said, “There’s no disconnect there. Everyone there wants a good deal. Nobody wants a bad deal.”
Walsh believes he can land Anthony for no compensation this summer when he’s a free agent. Walsh has said repeatedly he’s not worried about the new collective bargaining agreement, that if the cap number goes down, so will player’s salaries — so the reduction is proportional.
Walsh defended his club amid allegations they are just a .500 team. The Knicks defeated the Hawks, 102-90, last night and are 28-26 at the All-Star break.
“I like the team we have now,” Walsh said. “I like the position we’re in. What I like about the team is it’s very young. It’s not a team where: This is it. We are going to get better.”
Asked if there’s an active proposal on the table, Walsh said testily, “None of your business.”