Ken Berger of CBSSports.com says Denver wants to net young talent, multiple draft picks, and salary-cap savings when it finally trades Carmelo Anthony; that much hasn’t changed, and Berger is certain the Nuggets will relent and trade their All-Star small forward eventually. New, however, is word that the Nuggets aim to jettison power forward Kenyon Martin and shooting guard J.R. Smith in the deal as well. Martin, 32, and Smith, 25, are in the last year of their contracts.
Interestingly, Martin told Chris Tomasson of NBA FanHouse last month that he’s not anxious to get back on the court as he recovers from a knee injury:
Ain’t nobody in a hurry to give me a contract, so why would I be in a hurry to rush back and risk further injury?