3 Team Deal Picking Up Steam

[DJT]

Sources: Nets close to landing 'Melo in three-team trade
By David Aldridge, TNT analyst
Posted Jan 9 2011 9:01PM
The New Jersey Nets were close on Sunday evening to acquiring All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team deal with the Detroit Pistons, but are still looking to get a commitment from Anthony and his camp on a long-term contract, according to two league sources.

The deal would send Anthony, along with guards Chauncey Billups and Anthony Carter, along with center Shelden Williams, to the Nets. Detroit would send veteran Rip Hamilton to New Jersey. The Nets would send guard Devin Harris, rookie forward Derrick Favors, guards Anthony Morrow, Stephen Graham, Quinton Ross and Ben Uzoh, along with two first-round picks, to the Nuggets. New Jersey would send center Johan Petro and forward Troy Murphy (and his expiring $12 million contract) to Detroit.
The potential savings for Detroit -- Hamilton has two years and $25 million left on his deal -- combined with the opportunity to break up the backcourt logjam that has plagued the team for two seasons makes the deal irresistable for the Pistons. Trading Hamilton would allow the team to, finally, move Ben Gordon into the starting lineup instead of splitting mintues with Hamilton.
The Pistons don't want Petro, though, and are looking for New Jersey to route him somewhere else.
Yahoo! Sports and ESPN.com reported details of the deal earlier Sunday.

Detroit is giving up Rip, I guess no 1st coming or going from or to them.

 

[sheed]

The Nets are calling teams trying to help Detroit find a landing place for Johan Petro, front office executives say.

 

[RipCity32]

I really don't understand the big deal at all in taking Petro. His contract isn't even that bad.

 

[sheed]

Latest report out of Bergen Record has DaJuan Summers as other piece going to NJ w/Rip for Murphy, Petro.

 

[Pugz]

hopefully in the morning i check espn to see that this is done.

 

[bosoxlover12]

If you're wondering about importance of Petro, Nets need extra $3M of salary in deal to make it cap-legal. W/o him, whole deal crumbles.Second minor complication is that it appears both Detroit and Denver would need to waive somebody. I'm guessing Terrico White and Melvin Ely

John Hollinger


on a non related note, I want Terrico in Boston!

 

[RipCity32]

I want Terrico in Detroit <_<

 

[Pugz]

I want Terrico in Detroit <_<

lol, same. i dont think he'll ever be anything but i dig his hops and would love to see him boom in some games for us.

 

[RipCity32]

He is a good defender and has ups. Type of guy we should keep IMO lol.

 

[Pugz]

He is a good defender and has ups. Type of guy we should keep IMO lol.

if we waive him, im sure we'd make sure he sticks around so we can bring him back. we've done it before.

 

[RipCity32]

I surely hope so.
Dude top of the 2nd, so it's not like he doesn't have some talent.

 

[Pugz]

at the same time, hes a player any team can draft in the second.

 

[sheed]

Melo just said "I don't see it happening" in reference to the trade, but he wouldn't talk about timetable

 

[Giantmetfan07]

And the fact that both sides are willing to put aside grudges means that Denver and New Jersey are sufficiently motivated to complete the trade.

When? Not until the Nuggets have explored every option and tried to extract the highest possible price for Anthony, a three-time All-Star and franchise cornerstone who may already be playing beyond his expiration date in Denver.

Based on first-hand accounts from league sources, here is the latest holdup in the arrangement that would send Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton to New Jersey, Troy Murphy and Johan Petro to Detroit and Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and multiple first-round picks to Denver: The Nuggets, negotiating from a position of strength because they own the most coveted asset in the trade, are trying to extract one more quality young player and more cost savings from the current framework of the deal -- and if they can't do that, expand it or explore other scenarios to ensure they are getting the most assets possible for parting with their superstar.

Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri would prefer to parlay Harris into Nicolas Batum (pictured) by involving Portland in the deal, a scenario they thoroughly explored before the Pistons' involvement as a third team over the weekend, sources said. The Pistons' portion of the deal -- sending Hamilton to New Jersey so Anthony wouldn't have to go it alone in a risky reclamation project -- is solidified as far as Detroit and New Jersey are concerned. But the Nuggets have yet to decide if that is the best option for them.

In addition to getting another young player -- and Denver isn't sold on Harris, given the $17.8 million price tag over the next two seasons and the progress of Ty Lawson -- the Nuggets are continuing to explore getting off one of their long-term contracts as part of an Anthony trade. Sources say they are working feverishly to find a taker for either Al Harrington or Renaldo Balkman, a requirement that complicates matters even more.

Among the teams the Nuggets have spoken with previously is Minnesota, which asked for one of the Nets' better first-round picks in exchange for taking Murphy. With that, the conversation died. Sources also told CBSSports.com Monday that the Nuggets have engaged with the Knicks "a little bit here and there" about what it would take to get Anthony to his preferred destination, Madison Square Garden. Executives in contact with the Nuggets said Denver plans to give the Knicks an opportunity to construct a trade proposal that they will compare to what the Nets are offering -- a prospect that seems unlikely to be fruitful for New York, given that the Nuggets have always been more interested in the Nets' assets than the Knicks'.

Privately, members of the Nuggets organization believe they have taken Anthony's wishes into account by trying to construct a deal that does not land him in a bad situation. In addition, they believe the inclusion of Hamilton -- who shares Anthony's agent, Leon Rose -- is tantamount to approval from Melo that he will go against his desire to play for the Knicks and agree to the New Jersey extension. A team executive previously involved in Anthony trade talks but currently on the sideline agreed Monday.

Read the Rest -- http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/26970053

I'm actually surprised the Nuggets are giving the Knicks a chance to match the Nets' offer.

 

[dez]

Fuck that, I say call their bluff.

 

[DJT]

omg, Denver is taking forever on this. Sure its necessary to scout all available options, but they are running out of time.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Like I said, it won't happen.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

omg, Denver is taking forever on this. Sure its necessary to scout all available options, but they are running out of time.

I read somewhere last night that the Nuggets owner has been sweating his balls out the last couple of weeks because hes afraid of screwing this up and wants to make sure he gets the best possible package.

 

[Elite]

I'd say that Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and numerous 1sts is pretty good for Melo. He's probably worth more but it's the best they're going to do because no trade for a superstar in basketball can do go down and have it be a fair trade without the team trading for the star making their team worse.

 

[Pugz]

If Devin Harris ends up with Denver as part of the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster, he could be flipped in another trade soon after.

The Mavericks could approach the Nuggets about Harris if he ends up in Denver, according to sources with knowledge of the team's thinking.

Dallas is aware that Denver has little need for Harris with Ty Lawson on the roster and the veteran's larger contract.

The Mavericks traded Harris in a package that netted them Jason Kidd from the Nets back in 2008.

There will undoubtedly be competition for Harris if Denver acquires him and makes him available. The Trail Blazers have long been admirers of Harris and many teams are coveting a proven point guard.

Via Marc Stein/ESPN.com