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The Knicks or the Nets for Carmelo?

Citizen Journalists

Citizen Journalists

Written on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 20:53

(Daniel Eade is a freelance journalist who covers all forms of basketball

Any day now could be Carmelo Anthony's last day in the Rocky Mountains, as the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets continue to take turns in offering the Denver Nuggets their latest trade scenarios. Both teams hoping that Anthony will agree to sign a 3-year deal worth around $65million.

The Nets are currently believed to be offering rookie Derrick Favors (the no.3 pick in the 2010 draft), Troy Murphy, and two first-round draft picks for Anthony.

The Knicks are alleged to be offering Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry, Landry Fields, plus a first-round draft pick they believe they can acquire from the Houston Rockets for Anthony Randolph.

The Denver Nuggets are eager to ship out either Chauncey Billups or Kenyon Martin in any deal for Anthony, which would require the Nets to add possibly Devin Harris into their package, but it becomes near impossible for the Knicks to match.

Anthony, who has played his whole career with the Nuggets after being selected with the number three pick in the 2003 draft behind LeBron James and Darko Milicic, has denied the rumour that he would only sign a contract extension if he was traded to New York.

After completing a three-way trade on Tuesday with the Rockets and L.A. Lakers, the Nets parted ways with Terrence Williams and Joe Smith, and in return received two-first round draft picks and Sasha Vujacic. The Nets now have the ability to offer the Nuggets three-first round draft picks and possibly a fourth in a deal for Anthony, easily trumping anything that the Knicks could offer.

With Murphy's contract set to expire at the end of the season, clearing $11.9million in the salary cap, the Nuggets have a golden opportunity to rebuild around the draft picks the Nets are willing to offer, even if trading away Anthony will end any notion of the Nuggets challenging for the Western Conference crown in 2011.

The Nets are set to relocate to Brooklyn in 2012.

Other trades that are believed to be on the table for Anthony include:

Charlotte Bobcats - Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw.

Chicago Bulls - Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson and two first round draft picks.

Dallas Mavericks - Caron Butler, Rod Beaubois, JJ Barea, DeShawn Stevenson, two first round draft picks and $3million.

Houston Rockets - Shane Battier, Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries and two first round draft picks.

LA Clippers - Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and two first round draft picks.

The Dallas Mavericks are believed to be the only team that will trade for Anthony without the contract extension signed.

Anthony, who is averaging 23.1points per game this season, still has the option to re-sign with the Nuggets, but with him leaving the contract offer un-signed for a pro-longed period f time it would appear unlikely that Anthony would sign the deal to stay with Denver.

The Nuggets may also attempt to hold on to Anthony and allow him to walk at the end of the season and free up the cap space for future moves.

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