BOSTON — Denver has called back.
As everyone in the NBA, and the Nets front office, expected, the Nuggets reached out to the Nets and are trying to re-engage in trade talks for Carmelo Anthony, multiple league sources confirmed last night.
The Nets always were seen as the team with the best assets to offer the Nuggets for the All-Star small forward, and some felt it was only a matter of talks resumed before the Feb. 24 NBA trade deadline.
One source close to the situation labeled the talks as “exploratory,” claiming there have been discussions, nothing is close, and any deal would in no way mirror the mega-blockbuster that was discussed, proposed and ultimately derailed last month by Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov after a lengthy, drawn-out process.
“There’s no Detroit; there’s no 17 players,” one source claimed. “Any deal would be a shell of the January version.”
A deal now likely would involve Nets draft picks, rookie Derrick Favors, and the expiring contract of Troy Murphy. Again, the Nets would not make any deal unless they are certain Anthony would sign the three-year, $65-million extension Denver has had on the table since the summer. Anthony also has $18 million guaranteed for next year, which he would lose if he opts out for free agency.
The Nets always have proceeded under the belief that Anthony would agree to sign and come to New Jersey if a deal could be struck with the Nuggets.
Sources contend the Nuggets called back, in part, because they are convinced Anthony will not re-sign in Denver, despite his recent claim he would take “a hard look” at staying put.
One league source insisted nothing was imminent with the Nets, and there have been no firm offers made from either side.
“My understanding,” said the source, “is that there have been talks for several days now and there has been no formal proposal.”
Prokhorov flew in on Jan. 19 and pulled the plug on the notoriously public talks, canceling a meeting planned with Anthony that week. Prokhorov said the deal had become “too long and too expensive” and ultimately cost the team up to five losses. The billionaire insisted his decision was final.
Never say never.
Prokhorov, Nets general manager Billy King, and Anthony all will be in Los Angeles this weekend for the All-Star Game, and it’s logical to assume there will be some sort of meeting or discussion. But one person close to the situation claimed no knowledge of any formal meeting planned.
The Nets ended their pre-All-Star break schedule with a 94-80 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday.
Once the Nuggets began fielding offers from other teams, the consensus feeling around the league was that Denver would dial up the Nets and talks would begin again. That’s confirmed.
The Knicks, because of Anthony’s desire to play in the Garden, were viewed as favorites but their proposal in a three-team deal involving Minnesota was far less than the Nets’ offer. And Denver’s counteroffer reportedly was seen as too pricey by Knicks brass
.
One rival executive said he was not surprised by the latest twist. And he simply reiterated a stance he has maintained for months.
“I always felt when all was said and done it would be the Nets if Anthony (is) traded because they have the most to offer,” he said.
The Nets at least three previous times felt they had a deal about to be finalized, but each time the trade fell apart because the Nuggets insisted on either more draft picks or sought to dump unwanted salaries on the Nets.
The January version of the trade involved eight Nets, including Favors, Murphy, Devin Harris and Anthony Morrow, and would have fetched a package including Anthony and Chauncey Billups from Denver plus Richard Hamilton from Detroit.
*
Harris may be on the move after all. A report in The Record of North Jersey said the Nets and Blazers are talking about a possible trade that would involve Portland point guard Andre Miller.