Just when it looked like the New Jersey Nets were a lock to acquire Carmelo Anthony in the blockbuster trade of the year, the New York Knicks swept in and made the Nuggets an offer worth accepting. Sources told the Denver Post on Monday night that an Anthony to New York is completed. Here is the framework of the alleged deal:
Knicks get: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman.
Nuggets get: Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks’ 2014 first-round pick, two future Warriors’ second round picks, and $3 million in cash.
New York was said to be stern with its initial offer, which didn’t include Mozgov, either of the Warriors’ picks, or cash. Obviously the Knicks knew they had to make the deal and they weren’t about to lose it over a couple of late draft picks.
If reports of New Jersey’s offer were accurate, we have to assume the deal fell through because Anthony had no interest in playing for the Nets. The trade included Derrick Favors and four first-round picks and was said to be contingent upon Anthony agreeing to a contract extension, which obviously didn’t happen. He also referred to Mikhail Prokhorov as “that guy” and denied that there was any meeting set to take place between he and Nets team executives.
Meanwhile, Amare Stoudemire and Anthony have accomplished two-thirds of their goal. At Carmelo’s wedding over the summer, the two reportedly discussed forming their own Big 3 with Chris Paul in the future. The third piece could end up being Deron Williams, but there is no denying the Anthony deal makes the Knicks immediate contenders in the Eastern Conference.
