The New York Knicks have upped the ante in their attempt to trade for Denver Nuggets All Star Carmelo Anthony. According to a recent report by Yahoo! Sports, the Knicks have sweetened the deal by adding Danilo Gallinari to the package that would send him, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler and Eddy Curry’s expiring contract in exchange for ’Melo, Chauncey Billups, and some combination of other reserves in order to sufficiently align the exchange of salaries.
In case you had tuned out the Anthony sweepstakes in recent days and are wondering why the Knicks increases their offer, here’s what’s developed in recent days:
The Knicks have been reluctant to give up Gallinari, but now appear willing to do so after the Nuggets assembled the framework of a blockbuster trade with the New Jersey Nets in recent days. The Nets’ offer would send rookie forward Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris, guard Ben Uzoh, the expiring contract of Troy Murphy and four first-round picks for Anthony, Billups, Melvin Ely, Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams. The Nuggets would then try to trade Murphy and one or two of the draft picks to a third team.
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While all this back-and-forth bidding unfolds, Anthony tried to sound surprised and unconcerned with anything but being able to play ball again without any distractions:
"My mind’s boggled right now about this whole situation," Anthony said. "I wish I could get this thing over with right now and I wish there was just something that was just on the table that the Nuggets could just say, ‘OK, let’s get it done.’ "
Stay tuned throughout the weekend, as it appears the full court press is on for either the Nets or Knicks to land one of the NBA’s premier talents by the end of All Star Weekend.