Sources: Nets-Nuggets Blockbuster Taking Form

[Darth_Pelican]

Updated: January 9, 2011, 5:27 PM




Sources: Nets, Nuggets 'further along'

By Chris Broussard and Marc Stein
ESPN.com


The New Jersey Nets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=njn)' attempts to acquire Denver's Carmelo Anthony (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1975) are "further along" than any trade scenario that has been discussed since their near-acquisition of Anthony in late September, according to sources close to the negotiations.


http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/1975.jpg
Anthony


A three-team deal involving the Detroit Pistons (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=det) that would include at least 15 players -- with Rip Hamilton (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=294) and Chauncey Billups (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=63) winding up in New Jersey with Anthony -- could be completed as soon as this week, sources said.
The primary elements of the scenario currently on the table, sources said, call for New Jersey to acquire Anthony, Billups and Hamilton; Denver to land Devin Harris (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2382), Derrick Favors (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=4257), Anthony Morrow (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3474) and at least two first-round picks; and Detroit to acquire Troy Murphy (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1013) and Johan Petro (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2780).
Other players with smaller contracts would have to be included to make the salary-cap math work.
One key to the advancing nature of negotiations, sources said, is the Nets' and Nuggets' willingness to complete a trade without asking Detroit to surrender a first-round pick.
When the talks involving Detroit as a potential third-team facilitator were first reported Friday night by the Bergen Record of New Jersey, sources told ESPN.com that the Pistons were balking largely because they were being asked to surrender a first-rounder.
Yet sources said one of the remaining potential snags is New Jersey's insistence that the Pistons absorb the contract of Petro.
The Pistons do not want to take back Petro, even though shedding Hamilton's contract in exchange for Murphy and the Nets' center would represent an overall savings of roughly $17 million.
Sources say Detroit's stance on Petro has prompted New Jersey to begin looking for a fourth team that might be willing to take on the 24-year-old big man.
The Nets turned to Detroit to help seal their months-long pursuit of Anthony after attempts to rope in Cleveland, Minnesota and Portland as a third-team facilitator failed to progress.
Any trade for Anthony, however, still hinges on the All-Star forward's willingness to sign a three-year, $65 million extension with the Nets as part of the transaction in what is known as an extend-and-trade. The Boston Celtics (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=bos) got the same extend-and-trade commitment from Kevin Garnett (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=261) when they acquired him from Minnesota in July 2007.
The Nets have made it clear that they will not agree to an Anthony deal without getting his signature on an extension a la Garnett. ESPN.com reported last month that the Nets plan to request permission -- and have already been told they will receive it -- to meet with Anthony face-to-face if a trade agreement is eventually struck with Denver. That would allow owner Mikhail Prokhorov and part-owner Jay-Z to lead a Nets contingent that would try to lobby the Brooklyn-born Anthony directly on the team's future, with the Nets planning to move to Brooklyn in time for the 2012-13 season.
The Nets long ago committed to send prized rookie Favors, former All-Star Harris and at least two first-round picks to the Nuggets in exchange for Anthony.
But New Jersey has been attempting to find a third team to help facilitate the blockbuster deal for Anthony that they've been chasing since the September collapse of a four-team swap involving Charlotte and Utah.
One source close to the situation insisted Sunday that the Nets -- optimistic as this sounds -- believe a face-to-face meeting with Prokhorov won't even be necessary to get Anthony's signoff if New Jersey can indeed acquire Billups and Hamilton. It was not immediately clear, though, how Denver native Billups' reported desire to seek a buyout if he's traded by his hometown team to the Nets would affect Anthony's stance.
What did seem clear Sunday is that the talks have taken on their most serious tone since the negotiations in February that would have landed Harris in Charlotte and Jazz veteran Andrei Kirilenko (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=434) in Denver.
The New York Knicks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=nyk) remain Anthony's strongly preferred destination, sources say, but Denver has shown little interest in the Knicks' assets (such as Wilson Chandler (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3194), Landry Fields (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=4274) and Danilo Gallinari (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3428)) and have been negotiating almost exclusively with the Nets for weeks.
With Favors and a cache of first-round picks it can move, New Jersey has a far more attractive war chest of trade assets. It likewise appears the Nets will not abandon their pursuit of Anthony until they're told directly by the All-Star forward that he would not sign an extension with them, which is the message some sources close to the process still believe New Jersey will get, as reported in December by ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan.
Nets officials, though, have remained quietly confident for months that Anthony, born in Brooklyn, ultimately would agree to the extension -- no matter how much he'd prefer to play in New York -- to ensure that he locks in his contract before labor negotiations this summer that are expected to establish a much more restrictive financial landscape in the league.
One source close to the talks said Sunday afternoon that the deal could be clinched if the Nets can find a fourth team willing to absorb Petro's salary. Detroit has been restricted in its attempts to make roster moves in recent months because of the team's pending sale, but sources told ESPN.com on Friday that the Pistons would be very interested if a trade scenario developed where they only had to surrender Hamilton and take back Murphy.
The Nets and Nuggets, meanwhile, have not stopped looking for other teams beyond Detroit that would be interested in joining the trade, since Denver does not have a strong need for Harris with young guard Ty Lawson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=4000) on the roster. New Jersey and Denver have likewise continued to discuss trade possibilities with the Nuggets that don't involve any other teams.

Chris Broussard covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine. Marc Stein in a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

[Darth_Pelican]

Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups winding up in New Jersey with Carmelo.

[Darrin]

Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups winding up in New Jersey with Carmelo.

2003-04 Detroit Pistons moving to Brooklyn.

[Muser]

With no defense.

[Basketballgirl25]

someone tell me when a deal is done. I'm totally confused with everything going on with the trade, it changes everyday

[4>0rings]

Detroit gettin' F'ed in the A.

Per the usual.

[LeHeat_Dynasty]

Huge gamble for Prokohrov or whatever to go this route. I think he's pretty confident he can sell the idea that the Nets are moving to a new stadium Brooklyn in a few years time, but if everything doesn't go according to plan, they are resetting back their the lowest of the low if Melo decides to leave anyway.

[sefant77]

Harris and Favors instead of just looking how Carmella leaves next summer for nothing...thats huge for Denver

[Basketballgirl25]

Huge gamble for Prokohrov or whatever to go this route. I think he's pretty confident he can sell the idea that the Nets are moving to a new stadium Brooklyn in a few years time, but if everything doesn't go according to plan, they are resetting back their the lowest of the low if Melo decides to leave anyway.

agreed it is a huge gamble, but from what i heard all season long, Nets will only do a deal if Melo agrees to sign a extension, so I'm hoping if a trade goes down that means he agreed

[8FOR!3]

PG Chauncey Billups
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Carmelo Anthony

They're going to Jersey Shore!

Carmelo Anthony: "I'm the sweetest bitch you're ever gonna meet."

[Darrin]

Nets ‘real close’ to landing Anthony

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
30 minutes ago

The New Jersey Nets are nearing an agreement on a three-team trade to acquire Denver Nuggets All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony(notes), league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

“It’s real close,” one source with knowledge of the talks said.

The Nets are nearing agreement on the component of the trade that exchange Troy Murphy(notes) for Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton(notes), sources said. The teams are still negotiating whether Nets center Johan Petro(notes), who has two years and $6.75 million left on his contract after this season, will be included, but that isn’t expected to unravel the overall deal. The Pistons are too motivated to unload the remaining two years and $25 million on Hamilton’s contract for Murphy’s $12 million expiring deal.

The New York Knicks remain Anthony’s preferred destination, but Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri has told Knicks president Donnie Walsh that his team doesn’t have the assets Denver wants. When Walsh has asked Ujiri to provide him with a list of the Nuggets’ desires, whether it be draft picks or specific players from other teams, sources said Ujiri has been unresponsive.

Anthony’s agent, Leon Rose, has been the driving force behind bringing Hamilton into the talks, league sources said. Rose, also represents Hamilton, and sources said he pushed Nets GM Billy King to bring the Pistons into trade talks with New Jersey and the Nuggets. Anthony has wanted the Nets to upgrade their roster upon his arrival for him to sign a three-year, $64 million contract extension.

“Leon is driving this one,” one front-office executive told Yahoo! Sports on Friday night.


[Rewind: Controversial guest booed at Anthony’s wedding]

With Anthony’s agent so heavily involved in brokering particular players in the deal, the Nets are working under a belief that a proposed package to bring them Hamilton and Denver’s Chauncey Billups(notes) would be sufficient to sell Anthony on joining them over his preferred destination, the New York Knicks.

Rose and William Wesley of CAA have long wanted to get Anthony and another of their clients, New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul(notes), to the Nets as the franchise prepares for a move to Brooklyn, N.Y. For now, Rose is pushing hard to get a suitable package together for Denver to get his client off a team he longer wants to play for.


As part of a package that would bring them Anthony and Billups for Derrick Favors(notes), Devin Harris(notes) and multiple first-round picks, New Jersey proposed sending the Pistons Murphy and Petro for Hamilton and Detroit’s 2011 first-round draft pick. Detroit rejected the overture, and sources said the Nets have since backed off their request for the pick and are also trying to find another home for Petro.

The availability of Hamilton has been known for months, and yet the Nets only now finally reached out about including him in the Anthony deal. This could suggest that Rose is more enthusiastic about adding Hamilton than King and Nets coach Avery Johnson.

[Photo: See Carmelo’s wild BET awards ensemble]


The Record of Hackensack, N.J., first reported that New Jersey had engaged Detroit in the talks on Friday.


Most league executives are dubious that Anthony would believe Billups and Hamilton, ages 34 and 32, respectively, would be tantalizing. Nevertheless, Denver has shown little interest in negotiating a trade with New York, and it believes Anthony doesn’t want to risk free agency this offseason when a new labor agreement could cost him tens of millions of dollars in guaranteed money.

As Yahoo! Sports first reported on Dec. 14, the Nets want the chance to use Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov to personally sell Anthony on signing a contract extension.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AkBc9eZfRaBuaGte_hZtJPK8vLYF?slug=aw-netspistonstalks010711

[Darrin]

PG Chauncey Billups
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Carmelo Anthony

They're going to Jersey Shore!

Carmelo Anthony: "I'm the sweetest bitch you're ever gonna meet."

Billups / Farmar / Carter
Hamilton
Melo
Kris Humphries (really coming on strong now)
Brook Lopez

They have Hamilton (32) coming off the books in 2 years. They have Billups (34) coming off the books the year before, the same year as Chris Paul if he decides to leave 17 million on the table. That's the same summer of Dwight Howard. So the Nuggets contend right now for a top-five spot in the East, and have a chance to upgrade when Joe Dumars' former nucleus is ready to leave town.

[sefant77]

Maybe they have just Farmar/Carter instead of Billups if he really doesnt want to play for the Nets.

[BUMP]

:lol wtf does Detroit get in this deal exactly?

[frodo]

maybe lakers will shed some trashes to denver and take harris to staples

[sefant77]

:lol wtf does Detroit get in this deal exactly?

Shred RIPs sucking contract

[Thunder Dan]

David Stern thinks the NBA is strong? What kind of league is it where stars look to be traded to shitty teams just so they don't have to be in a city? The NBA is going to be 6 teams, and everyone outside those 6 markets will just stop watching. It's gonna happen.

[Jose Canseco]

:lol wtf does Detroit get in this deal exactly?

Dumping Rip Hamilton's 2 years and $25 million left on the remainder of his contract after this season for an expiring contract. I'm fine with that as long as it's true that they refuse to surrender a first round pick.

[Thunder Dan]

this is like Tom Brady demanding a trade to the Raiders

[DPG21920]

1) Great move for DET who is hamstrung with a bad team and bad contracts

2) They actually get a player back who is useful this season as well.

[sribb43]

Avery hates Devin :lmao trading him for the 2nd time.

[frodo]

Avery hates Devin :lmao trading him for the 2nd time.

naw, he'll quit the Nets job and join Detroit shortly, he loves devin and loves him forever

[Basketballgirl25]

naw, he'll quit the Nets job and join Detroit shortly, he loves devin and loves him forever

isn't devin going with favors to Denver, if Avery is going to quit and follow Devin he might want to know what team Devin is going too first:lol, I heard it was Denver, but things can change

[Darrin]

:lol wtf does Detroit get in this deal exactly?

Detroit is trying to negotiate for a 1st-round pick. Tell me that Hamilton (13.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.2 rpg in 26.0 mpg) is worth a 1st-rounder and a starting power forward. Hamilton, who is signed for the next two years, is now a basketball luxury with Austin Daye (11.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 1.7 apg in games where he plays more than 20 minutes), Tracy McGrady (11.3 ppg, 8.0 apg, and 5.0 rpg in December), and Ben Gordon (signed a 6-year, 60 million dollar contract) on the team. The Pistons, in the short term, have another body (11.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.6 apg over his career) on a very small frontline. I'd even pencil him in as a starter if this deal went down (with Charlie Villanueva and Greg Monroe off the bench). In the short term, the Pistons are 2 back in the loss column for the 8th playoff seed (24 losses). If the Pistons play well with Murphy, they could make the playoff for the first time since 2009.

Murphy is due for 12.1 million off the books in 2011 offseason. Tayshaun Prince will be gone for 11.1 million. Rodney Stuckey (restricted) and Jonas Jerebko will be free agents as well and will need to be re-signed. Assuming they waive both Prince and Murphy to lose them for nothing, they would be able to re-sign Jerebko, Stuckey, and have room for a 10-million-dollar free agent like Marc Gasol.

[sribb43]

So Avery is going to get fired from NJ, wait a couple years become the coach of Denver and claim that he was not the one who wanted to traded Devin for a 2nd time and that Devin is his guy :lol

[rayjayjohnson]

Billups gets bought out and rejoins the nuggets tbh

[rayjayjohnson]

South beach would definitely benefit from some chauncey

[Darth_Pelican]

Looks like Melo senses that tonight's game is his last with the Nuggets... 2 pts, 3 fouls at the half.

[rayjayjohnson]

Have fun new jersey. Have fun with melo's no d-playing, quitting ass.

Good riddance to bad rubbish, he's been fucking with our team all season and I'm tired of it.

[redzero]

Melo is playing like he was traded already.

[DPG21920]

That is not really fair. Melo, despite all this drama, has played hard for Denver. You can't judge him on this one game. He has done his part this season imo.

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Have fun new jersey. Have fun with melo's no d-playing, quitting ass.

Good riddance to bad rubbish, he's been fucking with our team all season and I'm tired of it.

:lol
He's the only reason that sorry azz franchise was ever relevant

[silverblk mystix]

Nuggets should have taken the knicks' gallinari, chandler & fields....

although I would hate to see melo & amare & co in NY

[Quit Hatin']

south beach can have chauncy as long as LA finds a way to get harris.

[rayjayjohnson]

:lol
He's the only reason that sorry azz franchise was ever relevant

Ummmmm, you heard of this tall goofy German who plays for your team?

[rayjayjohnson]

That is not really fair. Melo, despite all this drama, has played hard for Denver. You can't judge him on this one game. He has done his part this season imo.

When did he last play hard?

Last time he truly impressed me was in Cleveland last season. He hasn't played with much heart since.

[ducks]

read chauncy does not want to be a net and will ask to be bought out to play for the nuggets

[DPG21920]

Is that a joke? He has played hard in every game that I have seen and you are just being bitter (which I can understand).

IMO, people can have beef with him, but the claim he isn't playing hard is invalid.

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Ummmmm, you heard of this tall goofy German who plays for your team?

And we Mavs fans see that.
Now you need to see that without Carmelo that team becomes Clippers/Kings. Maybe a little worse

[rayjayjohnson]

Is that a joke? He has played hard in every game that I have seen and you are just being bitter (which I can understand).

IMO, people can have beef with him, but the claim he isn't playing hard is invalid.

Yeah, I'm bitter.

But he hasn't played hard once this season. Not a single game. He's scored some, but has played with zero heart.

[redzero]

Well, this is now the game thread.

I'm calling it: Hornets choke in the 4th.

[rayjayjohnson]

And we Mavs fans see that.
Now you need to see that without Carmelo that team becomes Clippers/Kings. Maybe a little worse

Yeah, you totally see that. You staaaaacked, remember?

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Yeah, I'm bitter.

But he hasn't played hard once this season. Not a single game. He's scored some, but has played with zero heart.

:lol
No point in trying to talk sense with this clown. He won't give Carmelo his true due

[DPG21920]

I guess I just disagree. I have seen him play hard. I think he has been a professional and done his job.

I have even heard others comment on that exact thing.

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Yeah, you totally see that. You staaaaacked, remember?

Yea I do see that, what's your point?

[rayjayjohnson]

He's been anything but professional. The professional thing to do would have said he wasn't going to sign the extension straight up when it was offered, instead of being silent and dicking the nuggs front office around for nearly six months now. Combine that with his mailed in performances since October and I'm surprised more nuggets fans aren't sick of his shit.

[j.dizzle]

LOL nuggets. Nothing but a big ass distraction for the whole team. They're already mentally weak & all this trade talk probably has them all confused n shit

[rayjayjohnson]

Yea I do see that, what's your point?

Staaaaaacked with mediocre role players and a first round exit?

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Bottom line is a true Nuggets fan would praise Carmelo for doing everything in his power to make that franchise relevant. Instead of being bitter and dismissing him and his achievements while in Denver

[rayjayjohnson]

Bottom line is a true Nuggets fan would praise Carmelo for doing everything in his power to make that franchise relevant. Instead of being bitter and dismissing him and his achievements while in Denver

If melo showed an ounce of respect and appreciation for his fans and was honest with them, then, yeah, I might have praised him. But guess what...?

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Staaaaaacked with mediocre role players and a first round exit?

Whatever makes you feel better man. I feel bad for Denver fans, its about to get real rough for that franchise. But atleast give Carmelo his due for what he has done. Makes you sound like a moron saying otherwise

[redzero]

Meltdown happening right now.

[Venti Quattro]

Is Melo with the Nets already? :lmao

[ducks]

C. Billups 1-8
he said he did not want to go

[ducks]

C. Billups 1-8
he said he did not want to go

[ducks]

8:13 DEN - Al Harrington makes a 25-foot three-pointer from the left wing. Assist: Carmelo Anthony

[rayjayjohnson]

If Chauncey leaves and plays for someone like the heat, I can promise you I'll be wishing him the best and hoping they get that ring, because chauncey is straight up class who respects his fans and is open about it. That's the difference, so don't be some bitch trying to say I'm not a true fan. True fans hold their players accountable for their actions and behaviors.

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Denver making a comeback right now

[Venti Quattro]

Billups 1-9

Melo 1-7

:lmao

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Billups 1-9

Melo 1-7

:lmao

Still hanging in though, we'll see see in the next 6 mins.

[redzero]

Fuck, I really hope this isn't going to be yet another second half collapse.

[Venti Quattro]

Meltdown in 1, 2, 3.......... :lol

[redzero]

Wow, Chris Paul is taking big shots at the end of a close game? What?

[Killakobe81]

Chauncey is needed more in Lakerland but he wont come

[rayjayjohnson]

Well, if the nuggets can't knock down a shit house hornets team, I guess I can see why melo is leaving...

[redzero]

Barring some 13 in 30 seconds bullshit, the Hornets look like they have this.

[Venti Quattro]

Chauncey is needed more in Lakerland but he wont come

Won't solve our guard problems. In 2008 he would have been very useful

[TD 21]

If it goes down as it's (supposedly) currently constructed...

Nuggets

Starters: PF- Martin, SF- Smith, C- Nene, SG- Afflalo, PG- Harris

Bench: PF/SF- Harrington, PG- Lawson, C/PF- Anderson, SG- Morrow, PF- Favors, SF- Forbes, SF/PF- Balkman

Inactive: SG/SF- Graham, SG- Ross, PG/SG- Uzoh, PF/C- Ely

Pistons

Starters: PF- Villanueva, SF- Prince, C- Wallace, SG- Gordon, PG- Stuckey

Bench: SG/SF- McGrady, PF/C- Monroe, PF- Murphy, PG- Bynum, SF- Daye, PF- Maxiell, C- Petro

Inactive: SF/PF- Jerebko, PF/C- Wilcox, SF/PF- Summers, SG/PG- White

Nets

Starters: PF- Humphries, SF- Anthony, C- Lopez, SG- Hamilton, PG- Billups

Bench: SF/PF- Outlaw, PG- Farmar, PF/C- Williams, SG- Vujacic, SF/PF- James, PG/SG- Carter


Ely and Wilcox are probably instantly waived (incidentally, the Clippers picked them 8th and 12th in '02). Graham or Ross could be, too. The Nets need to add two players to comply with league rules. A backup five and a depth big makes sense, although they could use a depth two guard as well. They'll probably sign Wilcox and maybe Ely, too, if they're both waived.

Nuggets: They go from having the third best three in the game to not having a starting caliber three. They should flip Harris to the Trail Blazers, who supposedly want him, for Miller's expiring contract, a 1st and Babbitt. Miller's good enough to keep them halfway respectable for the remainder of the season and it allows them to turn the team over to Lawson next season. They have three rotation quality SG's, which means Smith is likely on the way out. They should have dumped either Harrington's or Balkman's salary in the deal, even if it meant getting back slightly less value.

Pistons: Even if they're forced to take Petro, it's a coup to be able to dump Hamilton's contract and clear up their logjam on the wings. Petro, mediocre as he is, would give them some actual size. Murphy combined with Prince gives them two big expiring contracts.

Nets: Despite getting by far the best player in the deal, I don't like it for them. They lack size, depth, rebounding and wing defense and are now saddled with an aging, expensive, declining back court. Because the East is so weak, they should instantly become the seventh or eighth best team in the conference. But short of Paul joining them after his contract is up in a year and a half, I don't see them getting much better anytime soon.

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Take this for what it is worth but a reporter asked Carmelo about the Nets trade and he said he "Doesn't see that happening"

[ChrisHansen]

I don't see how this doesn't happen because all 3 sides are greatly benefited.

Denver gets a great deal by instantly adding quality youth in Favors/Harris/Morrow with Favors having the potential to be a superstar down the line. On top of all that they get two 1st round draft picks :wow

[Killakobe81]

Only person truly happy with this should be Denver cuz they rebuilding anyway ...

Melo Rip and Chauncey? Against Celts and Heat?

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

If Melo turns this away I have to applaud him.
Think about it, he is turning down potential millions with the new CBA just to play for the Knicks?? Loyalty

[Killakobe81]

I guess Pistons happy too cuz they cut salary

[Darrin]

Only person truly happy with this should be Denver cuz they rebuilding anyway ...

Melo Rip and Chauncey? Against Celts and Heat?

You forgot Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries (I'd love to have this guy, such a great banger). You forgot about Jordan Farmar, Shelden Williams, Sasha Vujacic, and Anthony Carter who have all played deep into the postseason.

Yes, for two years until Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are free agents. Pray that it happens because it looks like there would be seven legitimate teams in the Eastern Conference: Miami, Boston, Orlando, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and New Jersey.

Detroit gets rid of that massive contract AND gains someone who could help on the interior (the comparison is to Ben Wallace, Greg Monroe, Charlie Villanueva, and Jason Maxiell. Murphy is an upgrade). The Pistons, with more outside shooting and rebounding from the power forward spot, and his effect on the rest of the players, putting them in more suitable roles, might make the Pistons a sub-.500 playoff team. They are 3-back in the loss column right now.

Denver is the team that benefits the least. They become to the West what the Nets are in the East (right now), but that will happen when Anthony and Martin leave while they are still paying Billups and trying to keep Nene happy.

[Killakobe81]

You forgot Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries (I'd love to have this guy, such a great banger). You forgot about Jordan Farmar, Shelden Williams, Sasha Vujacic, and Anthony Carter who have all played deep into the postseason.

Yes, for two years until Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are free agents. Pray that it happens because it looks like there would be seven legitimate teams in the Eastern Conference: Miami, Boston, Orlando, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and New Jersey.

Detroit gets rid of that massive contract AND gains someone who could help on the interior (the comparison is to Ben Wallace, Greg Monroe, Charlie Villanueva, and Jason Maxiell. Murphy is an upgrade). The Pistons, with more outside shooting and rebounding from the power forward spot, and his effect on the rest of the players, putting them in more suitable roles, might make the Pistons a sub-.500 playoff team. They are 3-back in the loss column right now.

Denver is the team that benefits the least. They become to the West what the Nets are in the East (right now), but that will happen when Anthony and Martin leave while they are still paying Billups and trying to keep Nene happy.

Not enough to beat Miami or Boston or even healthy Bulls Knicks maybe but even that is not a lock

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Not enough to beat Miami or Boston or even healthy Bulls Knicks maybe but even that is not a lock

Carmelo has to know that, which is why I question if he wants to be with the Nets long term.

[j.dizzle]

This shit is getting really annoying. I wonder how Melo's teammates & Denver fans feel. They always have a ton of energy in their arena, I wonder if that will change if all this goes down.

[DJ Mbenga]

the nets will have a nice starting 5 with a decent bench. but that team is 1 player away.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

This shit is getting really annoying. I wonder how Melo's teammates & Denver fans feel. They always have a ton of energy in their arena, I wonder if that will change if all this goes down.


I think he is a moron and can't wait till he is gone. He has given Denver some good years but he flat out quit tonight and im glad he got booed.

I was going to have no problem cheering for him as a Net, but tonight changed my mind

Can't wait to just start rebuilding with the young guys

[Fpoonsie]

(I'd love to have this guy, such a great banger)

[shudder]

[Buddy Holly]

this is like Tom Brady demanding a trade to the Raiders

More like Tony Romo or Philip Rivers. :lol

[Basketballgirl25]

I think he is a moron and can't wait till he is gone. He has given Denver some good years but he flat out quit tonight and im glad he got booed.

I was going to have no problem cheering for him as a Net, but tonight changed my mind

Can't wait to just start rebuilding with the young guys

at least if he comes to the Nets you aren't a Nets fan and don't have to cheer for him, being a Nets fan I'm suckered into cheering for him:bang:bang

[Basketballgirl25]

C. Billups 1-8
he said he did not want to go

let's hope Billups f's up this trade:toast

[Basketballgirl25]

I don't see how this doesn't happen because all 3 sides are greatly benefited.

Denver gets a great deal by instantly adding quality youth in Favors/Harris/Morrow with Favors having the potential to be a superstar down the line. On top of all that they get two 1st round draft picks :wow

from what I read this morning on netsdaily

"Finally (at least for now), there are reports that Devin Harris (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21719/devin-harris) might be moved immediately by Denver to Portland for Andre Miller (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21585/andre-miller) or Marcus Camby (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21503/marcus-camby), both of whom the Trail Blazers (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/portland-trail-blazers) are marketing, or even Dallas."

[Giuseppe]

Melo would impact with the Knicks.

He'll simply cash in with the Nets. Hamilton & Billups have forks in 'em.

[Thunder Dan]

Stern wonders why every team's fans boo Lebron. Lebron started this shit. He started the trend of good teams having to trade their best players because that asshole thinks they are too good for your city and team. If I were a Nuggets fan or a Hornets fan, I'd boo the shit out of Lebron too.

[Giuseppe]

It started long before LeBron did it, Dan....Jabbar goin' to Los Angeles, Bird goin' to Boston, Kobe goin' to Los Angeles, Francis refusing to go north of the border, etc. Once you start down this path it's a slippery slope and it complicates & compromises much that follows.

[Cry Havoc]

the nets will have a nice starting 5 with a decent bench. but that team is 1 player away.

At least. You're telling me the Nets are 1 player away from being nearly as good as Boston, Miami, or Orlando with that lineup? No way, not even close IMO. They're two good players away from competing even if this trade goes down.

[sefant77]

I hate Carmelo Anthony but at least the guy is honest and told the team allready early that he wont resign with them. The window in Denver is closing anyway due to the age of key players.

Denver has now enough time to work something out. Its not that asshole way Bosh choosed, the guy knew at least a year before FA that he wont re-sign in Toronto and yet tried to lie to everyone that he is open to everything.

[duncan228]

What’s the holdup on ‘Melo deal? Al Harrington’s bad deal. (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/10/what%e2%80%99s-the-holdup-on-%e2%80%98melo-deal-al-harrington%e2%80%99s-bad-deal/)
Kurt Helin

UPDATE 12:53 pm: Here is the latest, from multiple reports, at this time on the still pending Carmelo Anthony trade:

Everything seems to be in Denver’s court, but they continue to tweak offers and try to work out the best deal — they have even pushed the Nets to take on Renaldo Balkman in addition to Al Harrington. Which is the kind of dump of toxic assets the banks did on the government. The Nets, for obvious reasons, not really going for that.

The Pistons are going to get second round picks to go with Troy Murphy (expiring deal) and Johan Petro (they will be stuck with him).

Chauncey Billups is not taking part in Monday’s light practice in Denver, but Anthony and the other people in the trade are.

And can the Nets, having gone this far down the path, really back away from the deal? They are (and their fans are) emotionally invested. Hard to back away once that happens.

10:26 am: This summer, when the Nuggets realized that Chris Anderson and Kenyon Martin would miss the first part of the season, the Nuggets went after Al Harrington to bolster their front line. They got into a little bidding war with the Mavericks and ended up winning it with a five-year, $33 million deal.

Now that contract is standing in the way of a Carmelo Anthony trade, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN on twitter (http://twitter.com/chris_broussard#) (he tends to be more accurate than a lot of the sharks in the trade rumor waters).


Holdup to NJ-Den-Det trade is that Den wants NJ to take Al Harrington. NJ doesn’t want to b/c Al has 4 yrs, $28 mill left on deal.

Technically, the last two years of that deal are not fully guaranteed (he can be bought out for 50 percent), so think of it as two years, $20 million. Still, nobody really wants that deal. Which is probably why he has been in and out of the rumored variations of this deal.

The proposed trade has Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton going to the Nets; while Denver would get Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow, two first round picks, and maybe or maybe not Harrington. Detroit would give up Hamilton, who is owed $12.5 million next season, to take on the expiring deal of Troy Murphy this season. There are other picks and parts, but that is the core of the deal.

Harrington was not in the versions of the trade circulating late last night, but Denver seems to have thrown him back in the mix. Which fits with reports that they continually tweak the deal and seem hesitant to pull the trigger. Of course, they can do that so long as New Jersey’s offer is on the table. Nobody has put real pressure on them to make up their minds. Some other thoughts from Broussard.


NJ could try to recruit s 4th team to take Harrington, but their hope is that Den eliminates Harrington request.

NJ will give Detroit a draft pick for taking Petro, not determined whether 1st or 2nd rounder yet.

Billups won’t hold up deal, but sources just told me he will either want a buyout after season or a long-term commitment (extension) from NJ.

Personally, to take on the Johan Petro contract, you’d have to give me a first rounder.

Anthony himself said he didn’t think this trade was about to happen (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/10/camelo-anthony-says-trade-is-not-imminent/). There are a lot of moving parts, a lot of teams (and players and agents) involved, things never move fast because of that.

So we wait.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/10/what%e2%80%99s-the-holdup-on-%e2%80%98melo-deal-al-harrington%e2%80%99s-bad-deal/

[baseline bum]

It started long before LeBron did it, Dan....Jabbar goin' to Los Angeles, Bird goin' to Boston, Kobe goin' to Los Angeles, Francis refusing to go north of the border, etc. Once you start down this path it's a slippery slope and it complicates & compromises much that follows.

What does Bird going to Boston have to do with any of the rest? The Celtics used a technicality no other team considered to draft him a year early.

[sefant77]

Denver/Nets could recruit Dallas.

Harris/Harrington/Balkman to Dallas
Butler/Jones/Ajinca/TE to Denver

And additional picks/cash to whoever wants it more...

[Giuseppe]

What does Bird going to Boston have to do with any of the rest? The Celtics used a technicality no other team considered to draft him a year early.

But, that technicality was only activated that year and then once again outlawed immediately afterward.

[duncan228]

Carmelo Anthony hints the Knicks may not want him but says little else Monday (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/10/carmelo-anthony-hints-the-knicks-may-not-want-him-but-says-little-else-monday/)
Kurt Helin

Carmelo Anthony practiced with the Denver Nuggets Monday — a sign that nothing is imminent — as did everyone else whose name has come up in recent trade talks. The exception was Chauncey Billups (officially due to a headache, which I bet all the trade rumors are for him).

Anthony spoke to the media Monday but sounded more out of the loop on what is going down than you imagine he actually is. There was this one interesting quote though, via the twitter (http://twitter.com/christomasson#) of Chris Tomasson of FanHouse (http://www.fanhouse.com/staff/chris-tomasson/), about the New York Knicks:


“New York is playing well right now. I don’t think they’re looking at me. They wouldn’t want me to come in there and mess what they have up. That’s what I’ve read so.”

The entire island of Manhattan just yelled “WHAT!?!”

You can be sure the Knicks and their fans still want Anthony. Badly (although maybe not Amar’e Stoudemire (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/10/would-stoudemire-be-happy-in-knicks-don%e2%80%99t-get-%e2%80%98melo/)). But aside that quote you got no real sense of what Anthony is planning other than to suit up for the Nuggets Tuesday (again quotes are via Tomasson (http://twitter.com/christomasson#)). For example, would he sign an extension with the Nets?


“I really don’t know. I’m waiting to see Masai (Ujiri, Denver’s executive vice president of basketball operations) and Josh (Kroenke, the Nuggets president)… They haven’t been here. So I’m just patiently waiting until they get back so I have a sitdown with them.”

“I’m here… Until something happens, I’m a Denver Nugget.”

“I got a game tomorrow against Phoenix. So if I go out there tomorrow thinking about the New Jersey Nets that will disrespectful to myself. That would be disrespectful to this organization and to the fans out there.”

He could be a Nugget for a while longer.

This is a complex, 15-player, three-team trade that keeps evolving. The core of it would send Anthony, Billups and Rip Hamilton to New Jersey; Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, some other players and a couple first round picks to the Nuggets; and Troy Murphy and Johan Petro to the Pistons along with picks. But questions about whether Al Harrington is part, what picks and more continue to be negotiated.

Anthony reiterated again that he didn’t think anything was going to happen this week, saying there was no pressure that makes this have to happen in the next 48 hours. Also, there is no real pressure on the Nuggets to make a move so long as New Jersey’s core deal is still on the table — and the Nets are not likely to pull it off because they want Anthony. They want the Brooklyn native to open the new arena in Brooklyn in two years.

So while there is a lot of heat right now, we could be in this fire for a while. The trading deadline is Feb. 24.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/10/carmelo-anthony-hints-the-knicks-may-not-want-him-but-says-little-else-monday/

[baseline bum]

the nets will have a nice starting 5 with a decent bench. but that team is 1 player away.

Yeah, they'd be a Dwight Howard or a Derrick Rose away from being a contender.

[toki9]

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/10/carmelo-anthony-hints-the-knicks-may-not-want-him-but-says-little-else-monday/

Carmelo is worried about disrespecting the organization and the fan? After holding the franchise hostage since the summer?

This just seems like a major cluster f*ck. Inexperienced front office coupled with a stubborn player and a crazily motivated (and seemingly acquiescent) suitor just means 2 franchises and 15+ players in a limbo.

[crc21209]

:lol At the Nuggets signing that overrated trash Harrington to a big ass contract only to try and dump him now....