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Knicks vs Nets For Carmelo Anthony
By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 19, 2011
Modified Feb 19, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 19, 2011
Modified Feb 19, 2011
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With less than a week left before the NBA trade deadline, things are really heating up in the Carmelo Anthony trade saga. And though the NBA is on break for the All-Star weekend, there has been a flurry of activity over the past two days which has broken down all the 'Melo drama into one simple, final choice: Knicks or Nets?
After Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov swore off courting Anthony last month, the team resumed their pursuit of the All-Star this week; and just as quickly, NJ and the Denver Nuggets have agreed in principal to a massive trade, which requires only Anthony's approval/signing a contract extension...which means they are exactly where they were a month ago. In that deal, the Nets would get him, along with Chauncey Billups, Melvin Ely, Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams from Denver, while exporting Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round picks. Prokhorov wants to have a sit-down with Anthony this weekend, something he was unable to do during the last round of negotiations; Anthony told reporters he was, at the very least, open to the idea: "In anything that I do business-wise, and I look at this as a business right now, I would love to sit down with Mr. Prokhorov, with whoever, whatever team the Denver Nuggets want to send me to."
But Anthony, whose heart has always allegedly yearned for NYC, hasn't met with Prokhorov yet, while he has met with MSG president James Dolan, who has firmly inserted himself into the trade talks. If it was Denver's goal to scare/motivate the Knicks by bringing the Nets back into the picture, then it seems to have worked: with the Nets' offer on the table, Dolan met with Anthony and Josh Kroenke, the Nuggets' president, in L.A. on Thursday. "Jim Dolan definitely wants Carmelo Anthony in New York," said All-Star starter Amar'e Stoudemire.
It's important to note that Dolan was the sole Knicks representative to meet with Anthony, which relates to the latest proposed deal the Knicks have now made: the team has reportedly offered Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Eddy Curry's expiring contract for Anthony, Chauncey Billups and possibly Anthony Carter. Trading three legit, developing starters would gut the team, a move which team president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni have long advocated against doing. But a source told the News, "The Knicks are giving up a lot, but I can't imagine Jim's ego allowing himself not to do the deal. Denver wanted to deal directly with Jim because they feel he'll be more willing to make the trade."
It seems that Dolan envisions the Knicks as a three All-Star hydra, in the vein of the big three in Miami. He's willing to gut the team for Anthony now, and then pursue either Chris Paul of Dwight Howard next summer. Many journalists have become critical of the potential trade, saying the Knicks are giving up too much, and calling out Anthony's questionable defense; some have harshly called Anthony "Stephon Marbury in a headband." As it stands now, Denver is weighing the Knicks' offer, and Anthony is hoping for "something [set] in stone before I leave here this weekend." Now we're all left waiting to see which rose Anthony and the Nuggets will ultimately pick.
Tagged
basketball
carmelo anthony
knicks
nba
nets
trades
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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