There has been a lot of rumors circulating today that the Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets have agreed in principle on a trade for Carmelo Anthony before the trade deadline. Reports have said that they are only waiting on ‘Melo to agree to sign an extension with New Jersey if the trade were to happen. The reported trade would send Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and Troy Murphy to Denver in exchange for Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and Renaldo Balkman.
But the most interesting thing about the rumor is when ‘Melo was asked today if he knew about the deal or if he heard the reports he was supposed to be meeting this weekend with the Russian Nets owner in LA, he was geniuinely surprised:
Carmelo Anthony(notes) said Friday “no meeting at all” is scheduled with the New Jersey Nets and didn’t know what he would say if one does happen.
Speaking at an NBA Cares community service event, Anthony said a reported meeting that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov was seeking with the All-Star forward was “news to me.”
“I haven’t heard it,” Anthony said.
Russian billionaire Prokhorov told team executives last month to end drawn-out trade talks for Anthony, a day before they had been scheduled to meet.
“If I was to meet with that guy, to be honest I really don’t know what I would say,” Anthony said.
The Nuggets have looked into trading Anthony since he declined to sign a three-year contract extension worth nearly $65 million this season. The Nets have been close to a deal twice, and the New York Knicks are considered the other favorite to land Anthony if Denver decides to move him by Thursday afternoon.
Prokhorov’s spokeswoman insists nothing has changed with the impending NBA trading deadline, despite multiple reports of a possible meeting and/or deal. Prokhorov cited the high price the Nuggets were seeking and his frustration with the public nature of the talks when he halted them, not because of reports that Anthony only would agree to a long-term extension with the Knicks if he were dealt.
There are also reports that Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan wants to meet with Anthony this weekend. Anthony said there was no meeting scheduled with him, either, but seems to see the value in talking with a team that’s interested in him.
Read more details via AP on Yahoo.com
