The New Jersey Nets’ hopes of acquiring All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets appear to be waning. Anthony is apparently telling people he will not sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension if he is traded to New Jersey.
That is extremely bad news for the Nets, who have all along said they will not trade for Anthony unless he first agrees to that extension. It is also, essentially, bad news for the Nuggets. Denver likes the package New Jersey can offer — Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Troy, Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round draft picks — better than the offer from the New York Knicks.
It appears, however, that the Nets might be out of running. It was assumed that New Jersey owner Mikhail Prokhorov would meet with Anthony during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, but a Nets spokesperson said no such meeting is on Prokhorov’s agenda.
This is, however, good news for the Knicks. New York owner James Dolan reportedly met with Anthony Thursday night in Los Angeles, and it appears the Knicks may well be the only game in town as the Nuggets try to deal Anthony. The Knicks have reportedly offered Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler, in addition to Eddy Curry’s expiring contract and possibly a first-round draft pick, for Anthony and Chauncey Billups.
So, it is looking more and more like Anthony will be a New York Knick.