Carmelo Anthony hasn’t wavered in his desire for the Nuggets to trade him, reports Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post, citing “a source familiar with Anthony’s decision-making.”
That’s great news for teams with trade assets, and particularly the Nets and Knicks. “The source said Anthony’s camp is getting increasingly frustrated that he has yet to be dealt,” Hochman writes, “desirably to an East Coast team, notably New York or New Jersey.” Further, it’s “unlikely” that Anthony would approve a trade sending him to the L.A. Clippers or the 76ers, which gives the Knicks and Nets an additional leg up when it comes to acquiring the three-time All-Star, who’s finished each of the last five seasons no worse than eighth in scoring average.
The Nets’ biggest trade chip is rookie power forward Derrick Favors, the third overall draft choice this summer. But Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Nuggets are not sold on the raw 19-year-old just yet, describing them as “reluctant to complete” the proposed four-team trade last month which would have brought them Favors and Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko. It seems that Favors will need to prove himself on the NBA stage, and fast, if the Nets are to make another serious offer for Anthony.