Carmelo Anthony is the most lethal scoring machine in the NBA. Considering that fact plus his relatively young age for an NBA star makes him the prime target of a number of teams once they heard ‘Melo wanted out of Denver this season. Carmelo has made it clear in recent weeks that his number one choice of destination is the New York Knicks. But if a deal can’t get done between the Knicks and the Nuggets, what better place than New Jersey right? Especially since they might be moving to Brooklyn where Carmelo was born and lived until he was 8 years old.
Nets GM Billy King knows that as well as anyone, and is working feverishly once again with Nuggets brass on a possible multi-team deal that would bring ‘Melo to the Nets. There is a couple caveats though to get a deal done. First, the Nets need to get an assurance that ‘Melo will sign an extension. Second, Anthony won’t sign the extension unless he’s assured that there will be significant talent being brought in around him in the deal to New Jersey.
Denver’s and New Jersey’s trade partners are still unclear, but league executives said the Nets and Nuggets are tweaking several possible proposals with multiple teams. For now, New Jersey general manager Billy King is preparing to send rookie forward Derrick Favors, the expiring contract of Troy Murphy, two or three future first-round draft picks and $3 million to Denver for minimally Anthony and Harrington. More Nuggets and Nets would likely be on the move, too.
Center Brook Lopez is the only Nets player not involved in any of the proposals, sources said.
The Nuggets’ sudden urgency to move the unhappy Anthony is the reason more teams have been calling lately, including two contenders who are willing to chase a championship with Anthony as a rental player, a league source said. The Nuggets could do those deals without consulting Anthony, because those teams aren’t requiring a contract extension with Anthony to make the trade.
Read more details via Adrian Wojnarowski on Yahoo.com
