NBA PM: Has ‘Melo Been Netted?
Nets Inching Closer to Carmelo
Two things are holding up the completion of a Nets-Nuggets blockbuster trade: Carmelo Anthony’s approval of a three-year $65 million contract extension with New Jersey and the All-Star Break.
The unofficial moratorium on trades ends after Sunday’s All-Star Game and any lingering reservations Anthony has about the Nets might not even last that long. A source with knowledge of the situation has told HOOPSWORLD that New Jersey is “still pretty confident” that Anthony will agree to the extension when he and his representatives from CAA meet with the Nets on Saturday. A source told HOOPSWORLD back on Jan. 9 that the Nets had “heard it from the horse’s mouth” that Anthony was willing to sign an extension with the Nets. And even though the plot of this trade has twisted several times in the ensuing weeks, the team’s confidence in signing Anthony has never waned.
But, just to be sure, owner Mikhail Prokhorov (the guy who once walked away from these negotiations claiming the price was too high) CEO Brett Yormark and minority owner Jay-Z will reportedly pitch Anthony on Brooklyn and the future of the Nets. HOOPSWORLD has learned that the meeting will most likely take place on Saturday.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the deal would send Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Melvin Ely and Shelden Williams to New Jersey for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round picks. Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record followed Wojnarowski’s report with one of his own, which stated that the deal has been agreed to in principle.
Iannazzone goes on to write that Murphy—who is playing out the final months of a $12 million per year contract—might end up in Cleveland. However, if the deal doesn’t go through, look for Murphy to accept a buyout after the trade deadline. If he agrees to a $700K hit in salary, he could recoup that by signing with a playoff-bound team that has a need for rebounding and 3-point shooting. The New Jersey native has played in only 18 games this year and is currently on a leave of absence until his situation is settled.
Also, in the event that a trade doesn’t take place, the source has told HOOPSWORLD that there are other trade scenarios on the “back burner.” A deal with Portland that would net Andre Miller (and his unguaranteed 2011-2012 contract) in exchange for Harris and other players is still in play. The Nets might also still be looking to dump free-agent signee Travis Outlaw, who has four years and $28 million left on his deal after this season.
But Saturday Could Be Too Late
Knicks owner James Dolan met with Anthony in Los Angeles late Thursday night, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Apparently the meeting went well enough for Dolan to call a Friday afternoon conference call between himself, Knicks president Donnie Walsh, Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke and Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri.
If Dolan was persuasive enough, he could have convinced Anthony to not sign an extension with the Nets. That would essentially leave the Nuggets with one team to negotiate with: The Knicks.
Isola reports that the Knicks are reportedly balking at the inclusion of small forward Danilo Gallinari, who is currently New York’s fourth-leading scorer (15.9 PPG).
The proposed deal would likely include Knicks guard Raymond Felton, a No. 1 pick and the expiring contract of Eddy Curry while the Nuggets would send Anthony, Chauncey Billups and possibly reserve point guard Anthony Carter to New York.
If the Nuggets and Knicks can hammer out a deal Friday night, it may be Anthony’s decision as to where he wants to go.
{AUTHOR_BOX}NBA Players Eyeing Europe
Some NBA players will get their first taste of Europe when the Nets and Raptors play two games in London this March. Unfortunately, that might not be their last taste of the continent in 2011.
In the likely case of a work stoppage, many NBA players—including Lakers guard Kobe Bryant—have said they would consider playing overseas.
“If we have the option to go somewhere else to do what we love to do, why not?” Nets center and native Parisian Johan Petro told HOOPSWORLD. “I thought about it. I know other guys have.
“I was thinking about it,” he continued. “I was talking to my French teammates. Obviously, guys won’t go over at first. We keep [the option] there, maybe, in the back of our heads if [NBA labor negotiations take] too long.”
Of course, there are issues with playing overseas. Petro said it might be hard getting European clubs to allow players to return to the NBA without penalty—especially if the Americans are leaving their European teammates behind in the midst of the season.
“The hard thing will be being over there, then things start up again over here [in the NBA] and then you have to tell your teammates over there, ‘I have to go back. I have to be back here,” Petro said.
Then there are the players’ commitments to the NBA. Lakers fans wouldn’t be happy if Bryant injured himself playing in Milan.
“It’s a good idea,” Knicks center Timofey Mozgov said of playing in Europe, “but you have to think about things like injury.”
Another danger of playing overseas is foreign markets. Teams often offer big contracts only to disappoint players on payday. The key, players say, is ending up with the right team in the right league.
“Spain should be the top,” Petro said. “Spain, Italy, Russia. I mean those are the team’s that can afford it. Even if a country is bad, it still has one or two top teams.
“I don’t think it’s about the teams,” he continued. “It’s about where, like, what country to go to to make sure you get paid. That’s something to think about.”
Then there’s the opposing argument that says NBA players owe it to their teams to stay in shape in case a deal is reached. Nobody wants the league to reconvene in December with significantly heavier players.
“There’s no better way to stay in shape than to play—play the game,” said Petro, who would openly recruit NBA teammates to go with him. “So, I think it would be great [to bring teammates over in the event of a work stoppage].”
Check Out:
With all the pros congregating in Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend, take a peak at the Big East matchup between UConn and Louisville. The two powerhouse schools tip-off at 9 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.
(That brings up a major question: Is there a stupider arena name on the planet than the “KFC Yum! Center?”)
Anyway, keep an eye on the matchup between Huskies PG Kemba Walker and Cardinals PG Preston Knowles. The latter is averaging 14.9 PPG and hitting 40.3% of his 3-point attempts while Walker is seventh in the nation with a 23.2 PPG average.
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NBA Chats: Salary Cap guru Larry Coon will host another NBA Salary Cap chat at 8:00 p.m. EST. Susan Bible will host her weekly NBA chat tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. You can always find the next chat here: Upcoming NBA Chats.
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