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Deal for 'Melo Dead-For Now

Column NBA

Tuesday, 12 October 2021

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Melo is still in Denver-at least for the moment (AP Photo)

The alleged and highly-reported four-way deal that would have sent Nuggets Carmelo Anthony to the Nets is dead for now, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Anthony showed up to Nuggets training camp and participated in routine drills. When he spoke to reporters, Anthony stated that he "never once" asked for a trade out of Denver. The trade talk began over this past blockbuster free-agent summer that saw Lebron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwayne Wade to form a super team in Miami and Amare Stoudamire joins the Knicks. Anthony was supposedly unhappy and was trying to force a trade with one year left on his current contract. He has already rejected a three-year, $65 million extension.
The news of the trade first surfaced this weekend and included many principals switching teams. As part of the proposed deal, the Nuggets would have received Jazz F Andrei Kirelenko, Nets rookie and No. 3 overall pick of 2010 draft Derek Favors and two first-round picks-one each from the Jazz and Bobcats. Nets PG Devin Harris would have been shipped to Charlotte, with a combination of picks and/or players going to the Jazz. The deal reportedly fell through because of Kirelenko's salary would add 4.5 million to the Nuggets luxury tax.

For now, it seems that Anthony is in Denver. At the very least, he is noncommittal. His rejection of the Nuggets latest offer suggests that there is maybe a secondary deal in the works. It seems highly unlikely that the Nuggets will allow the entire season to pass and let Anthony walk next summer to a brighter destination without receiving something in return. What also seems apparent is that Anthony will likely leave to join a desirable location such as New York with Amare Stoudamire or maybe even the Nets with a bit more of a supporting cast in place and a move to Brooklyn imminent. It's possible that with Harris and Favors went that there weren't enough pieces in place to get him to New Jersey where he would be willing to commit to a long-term extension. After spending years helping build the Nuggets to a contender, he probably didn't want to go to another rebuilding process.
The Carmelo drama will linger on through the season. Whether the Nuggets are able to get an extension or a deal done remains to be seen. All signs are the point that he will most likely take his talents elsewhere. When is the question at hand?