Anthony to Nets: Sell me on N.J
DENVER – As the Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets move closer to completing their complicated trade, Carmelo Anthony(notes) has told close associates the Nets still need to sell him on signing an extension with them, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
" 'Melo can't have cold feet now," said one organizational source involved in the talks. "It's too far down the line. He's the one who wanted this."
Anthony hasn't ruled out committing to the Nets, but he wants a clearer vision of their plans for the future. Anthony's preference is to wait to see what other trade options become available for him, the sources said.
Nevertheless, multiple sources involved in the proposed three-team trade between the Nuggets, Nets and Detroit Pistons expect the deal to be completed next week, but no sooner than midweek.
Despite the Nuggets' best efforts to rid themselves of the four years and $28 million remaining on the contract of Al Harrington(notes), league sources said Harrington will not be included in the deal. The trade will look similar to the proposal the three teams discussed at the start of the week. In that scenario, the Nets would receive Anthony, Chauncey Billups(notes), Shelden Williams(notes) and Anthony Carter(notes) from the Nuggets. The Nets would send Denver two first-round picks, rookie forward Derrick Favors(notes), Devin Harris(notes), Anthony Morrow(notes), Stephen Graham(notes), Ben Uzoh(notes) and Quinton Ross(notes). The Nets also would receive Richard Hamilton(notes) and DaJuan Summers(notes) from the Pistons for Troy Murphy(notes), Johan Petro(notes) and a possible second-round pick.
Anthony has sought a trade from the Nuggets since refusing to sign a three-year, $64 million extension last summer. He preferred to go to the New York Knicks or Chicago Bulls, but neither team has presented the Nuggets an offer that rivals the Nets' assets.
After the Nuggets' victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday, Anthony said he will still be wearing a Denver uniform when the team plays the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.
"I'll be here against San Antonio [on Sunday]," Anthony also said.
Asked whether he planned to be playing for the Nuggets when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, he said, "You just keep asking after every game and I'll let you know."
Anthony admitted the ongoing speculation about the trade has weighed on his teammates.
"I'm sure they think about it," he said. "If they tell you that they don't, they'd be lying. I've been with these guys, most of them, seven, eight years. We talk. We communicate. I just want to tell them whatever happens, it's going to happen. But as long as I'm here, I just want everybody to just play and just have fun."
NBA columnist Adrian Wojnarowski contributed to this report.
