New Jersey Continue To Pursue Carmelo & This Time Maybe Billiups

 

~ The Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes continues to be one of the storylines of the 2010-2011 NBA season. When Anthony left  a $65 milion dollar extension deal from his Denver Nuggets on the table last summer, it set the wheels in motion for a season full of trade rumors and possibilities. The latest rumor reportedly involves a three-team deal involving the Nuggets, the New Jersey Nets, and the Detroit Pistons.

According to a report from ESPN the 3 team deal proposed would be:

• Anthony & Chauncey Billiups of Denver goes to New Jersey along with Rip Hamilton of Detroit.
• Johan Petro & Troy Murphy (& his expiring contract) of New Jersey would go to Detroit.
• Detroit would also surrender a 1st round pick in the deal.
• New Jersey would send Rookie Derrick Favors, Former All Star Devin Harris & at least 2 1st round picks to Denver.

The deal as most like most proposed deals involving Anthony looks alright on paper, however it has a few kinks in it. Billiups has made it known through his agent that he does not want to play in New Jersey and would request a buyout of his contract. The other kink is a big one … the Pistons are up for sale and are currently working under restrictions as far as roster changes.  Then of course is the obvious kink, the deal (or any other deal proposed) does not work unless Anthony agrees to sign the $65 million extension for three years with the team he is traded too, which in this case would be New Jersey. Anthony has reportedly told Denver the only team he will sign an extension with if traded is the New York Knicks. Apparently, the Nets either didn’t get the memo or they know something nobody else knows. They really are the one team that can offer Denver the most in a deal and they do have a Billionaire owner with a lot of money he’s itching to invest. It also helps that Jay-Z is a minority owner and he would obviously play a large role in selling Anthony on the idea of playing in New Jersey and then long term in Brooklyn when the Nets make there move.

Until Anthony comes out and says exactly what he wants to do, the rumors will continue, the Nets will continue looking for a third team to fit into a trade for him, and the team that might benefit the most from this is the Knicks. New York is playing it’s best basketball in years and even though they’d love to have Anthony on it’s team, the panic button does not have to be pressed right now. The two biggest trade pieces the Knicks have are Wilson Chandler & Danilo Gallinari, both are playing well and New York isn’t exactly in a hurry to move them. Best case scenario right now is the Knicks continue to play well and Anthony becomes a free agent this summer. That’s of course unless Anthony knows something that we all don’t know.