The proposed mega-deal that would send the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the New Jersey Nets as part of a three-team scenario has hit a wall, and it is over that pesky need for 'Melo to sign an extension with the Nets for it to go down.
ESPN's Chris Broussard tweets that Carmelo Anthony has not told anyone (at least so far) that he will sign an extension with the Nets:
Den, NJ, Det could be working feverishly for nothing. Sources say Melo has never told anyone, not even his reps, he's willing to sign in NJ
Chris Broussard
Chris_Broussard
That's the rub that has been overlooked in every trade scenario. Even if the Nuggets, the Nets and all the other teams involved have agreed on the players to trade, Carmelo Anthony still needs to agree to a three-year, $65 million extension.
The proposed trade involves the Detroit Pistons to balance out salaries, expiring contracts and draft picks. The Nets would receive Anthony, Billups, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams and the Pistons' Richard Hamilton. In return the Nuggets would receive rookie Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, several other players and two first-round draft picks (from the Nets). The Pistons would receive Johan Petro and Troy Murphy from the Nets, as well as a draft pick.
However, the Nuggets are also insisting the Nets take the contract of Al Harrington to make this deal happen. Well, as long as 'Melo signs the extension. Maybe momentum isn't on the side of this deal either, but sooner or later the Nuggets and Carmelo Anthony need to find an answer to this impasse--be it a trade to Jersey or the Knicks or the Houston Rockets.