Carmelo Anthony Trade Reportedly Hinges On Al Harrington

The Denver Nuggets have held up a three-team trade that would send Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets in hopes that the Nets or another team will take back Al Harrington in the deal, according to a report by ESPN's Chris Broussard.

Reports suggest a three-team deal sending Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton, Troy Murphy to the Detroit Pistons and Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow and Devin Harris to the Denver Nuggets came close to consummation over the weekend, and could be finalized Monday. But Broussard reports that the Nuggets want New Jersey to accept Harrington in the deal. New Jersey, who will reportedly cough up multiple first-round picks to Denver in the deal, has balked.

Harrington signed a five-year, $33 million deal with the Nuggets this past offseason after a minor bidding war with the Dallas Mavericks. The contract was widely panned, especially considering that Denver has been forced to cut good salary in recent years in order to avoid the luxury tax. Only 50 percent of the final two years of Harrington's deal is guaranteed, which means that the contract can either be considered five years and $33 million or three years and $26 million. Either way, it's considered to be quite rich, especially in the current labor environment.