Carmelo Anthony Trade: Nuggets, Nets Working On A New Multi-Team Deal, According To Report

In September, the Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets were working on a complicated four-team Carmelo Anthony trade scenario that eventually broke down because there were too many teams involved. Now, the Nuggets and Nets are at it again, and this time, the trade may be even more complex.

Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that talks between the Nets and Nuggets have “advancing” as Denver now has more “sudden urgency” to move the disgruntled star. Multiple teams and players are expected to be involved, in a trade that one executive involved in both trade scenarios described as “a more complex, even bigger deal” than the one that broke down in December. It’s not clear which specific players will go elsewhere, but the framework appears to be as follows:

The Nets, according to Wojnarowski, would then move Devin Harris to a third team and take back a veteran leader, perhaps even Chauncey Billups. Denver is also looking to move J.R. Smith, with the Bulls still interested. However, those are all the details we have now. Wojnarowski reports that the deal isn’t imminent, but could be completed in Janaury.

The Nets would try to sell Anthony on signing a long-term extension when he is eventually briefed about it, and owner Mikhail Prokhorov is expected to do so personally, but complicating matters is that there are reportedly two Western Conference playoff teams willing to acquire Anthony without him signing a new contract. The New York Knicks remain Anthony’s preferred destination, but are still unable to put together the kind of trade package that would entice Nuggets officials.

For much more on this, head over to Nets Daily and Denver Stiffs.