If there's not a great trade for the Nuggets to make, Denver could very well decide to hang onto Anthony and negotiate a sign-and-trade this summer or hope that owners get a franchise player tag as part of the new collective bargaining agreement. Other teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are interested in renting Carmelo and might offer the Nuggets something decent.
But that doesn't help Anthony at all. Not only has he shown no desire to play there, but if a trade does happen he may feel forced to sign an extension wherever he's traded to avoid the uncertainty of free agency -- something Dallas owner Mark Cuban and Houston GM Daryl Morey, two very savvy NBA negotiators, know all too well.
I have yet to come across anyone in the league -- owners, GMs, player agents, players -- who thinks that Melo will turn down an extension just to be free to go take less money to play for the Knicks next season.
That includes sources inside the Knicks. Could they be wrong? Human beings are complicated. They don't always react to stress in rational or predictable ways. Melo could be so hurt by everything that happens that he gives up the cash just to make a point or to punish the Nuggets. It's possible. But I don't think it's likely. And neither do the Nets or Nuggets. So all of this talk about the Nets calling the news conference because they found out Melo was refusing to sign with them is shortsighted.
Melo himself has said he had agreed to meet with the Nets. Prokhorov could've had his meeting. But if he went, he'd be coming from the weakest possible negotiating position. So he called off the meeting, told the Nuggets and Anthony to take a hike and in so doing, gained the upper hand.
Now what happens if in two or three weeks the trade offers don't improve? What happens when the Nuggets tell Anthony they aren't trading him to the Knicks? What about when the pressure really starts to mount? Whom will Denver and Melo turn to? And then Prokhorov holds the cards.
Denver, you want us to take Al Harrington? Forget about it. You want two first-rounders? We're giving you one. Then let us know you want to take the Nets into a new era in Brooklyn. And if Denver goes another direction or Melo declines to go to New Jersey, the Nets aren't any worse off than they already were. Meanwhile, they've finally taken control of their destiny and have the assets, going forward, to make a great deal.
So while some have called Prokhorov clumsy, clueless or incompetent, understand this: This is not a basketball deal any longer. This is Prokhorov and Kroenke, two businessmen, doing what they do best -- negotiating a deal. And Prokhorov just moved from a position of weakness to one of strength.
Prokhorov might be seeing if the Carmelo and the Nuggets will call his bluff. If Carmelo is not traded before the February 24 deadline, he may be leaving millions of dollars on the table with the looming new CBA coming this summer. The question now is, what do the Nets do now? I'll tell you two or three players that I'm interested in now. Monta Ellis: The guy is an intense scoring machine. He has been mentioned in MVP talks, as well as many trade rumors constantly.
He's exactly the type of player the Nets need. We and our partners use cookies on this site to provide a better experience with content, analytics, ads and to help improve security on our site. To accept cookies, close this box or continue to use our site, otherwise please do not use this website. To close this box, click I agree. Cookie Policy. Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
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