Melo going to Knicks
NEW YORK » Carmelo Anthony is getting his wish, and the New York Knicks are getting a second superstar.
The Knicks have agreed to a trade with the Denver Nuggets for Anthony, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press last night.
The deal that would end the seasonlong trade saga involving Denver’s All-Star forward and send him to his desired destination can’t be finalized until today during a conference call with the NBA office. Assuming it goes through, it puts Anthony alongside Amare Stoudemire in a potentially explosive frontcourt — at a heavy cost to the Knicks.
The person provided no other details of who was in the deal, which was first reported yesterday by the Denver Post. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the trade.
The Post, citing a league source, said the Knicks would send Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov and a 2014 first-round draft pick to the Nuggets, who would get additional picks and cash.
Along with Anthony, New York would acquire Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Hawaii alum Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman, according to the Post.
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ESPN later reported it was a three-way deal with Minnesota, which would acquire Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph from the Knicks for Corey Brewer.
The Nuggets have explored an Anthony trade since he refused to sign the three-year contract extension worth nearly $65 million they offered him last summer. They appeared on the verge of sending him to the New Jersey Nets on multiple occasions, but the Knicks increased their offer enough to land Anthony, who was believed to prefer New York all along.
The Knicks would hope he could be in uniform tomorrow when they host the Milwaukee Bucks.
Denver coach George Karl said there was "some sadness" to the deal, which sends away not only Anthony but Billups, the popular Denver native. But he added it was "time to move on, reinvent."
Anthony led the Nuggets to the playoffs in each of his first seven seasons in Denver after winning a national title at Syracuse as a freshman and had them positioned for another playoff run this year. But Denver advanced out of the first round just once in that time.
• Photo gallery: NBA All-Star Game
Sunday’s All-Star Game Box
WEST 148, EAST 143
EAST ALL-STARS
James 10-18 9-10 29, Stoudemire 11-20 6-6 29, Howard 2-4 1-2 5, Rose 5-13 1-2 11, Wade 6-9 2-2 14, Pierce 2-6 1-2 6, Rondo 3-5 0-0 6, Garnett 2-3 0-0 4, Allen 4-9 2-2 12, Bosh 7-10 0-1 14, Horford 1-3 0-0 2, Johnson 4-11 0-1 11. Totals 57-111 22-28 143.
WEST ALL-STARS
Anthony 4-10 0-0 8, Durant 11-23 8-8 34, Duncan 1-4 0-0 2, Paul 3-7 2-2 10, Bryant 14-26 7-8 37, Gasol 8-13 1-2 17, Williams 2-7 0-0 5, Nowitzki 3-8 0-0 6, Ginobili 2-7 3-4 7, Griffin 4-6 0-0 8, Love 1-3 0-0 2, Westbrook 6-12 0-2 12. Totals 59-126 21-26 148.
East | 27 | 37 | 36 | 43 | — | 143 |
West | 37 | 39 | 41 | 31 | — | 148 |
3-Point Goals–East All-Stars 7-29 (Johnson 3-9, Allen 2-7, Stoudemire 1-2, Pierce 1-3, Wade 0-1, Rose 0-1, Bosh 0-1, Howard 0-2, James 0-3), West All-Stars 9-31 (Durant 4-11, Paul 2-3, Bryant 2-7, Williams 1-3, Westbrook 0-1, Anthony 0-1, Nowitzki 0-1, Gasol 0-1, Ginobili 0-3). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–East All-Stars 65 (James 12), West All-Stars 67 (Bryant 14). Assists–East All-Stars 38 (James 10), West All-Stars 39 (Williams, Paul 7). Total Fouls–East All-Stars 14, West All-Stars 18. A–17,163 (18,997).