Report: Nets, Knicks to make pitch to 'Melo

Feb 18, 2011 - 10:25 PM New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NBA trade deadline is next Thursday, but the Carmelo Anthony saga could end this weekend in Los Angeles.

According to the New York Daily News, both Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and Knicks owner James Dolan will talk with Anthony either Friday or Saturday. Both will be in Los Angeles for owners meetings during the All-Star break.

The report, however, was denied by Anthony on Friday afternoon.

"No meeting has been set, so honestly I really don't know where that came from," an annoyed Anthony said. "I'm ready for something to just happen...I'm just ready for this whole thing to just be over with."

The Nuggets, who have offered Anthony a lucrative contract extension, want to make a trade before he becomes a free agent this summer.

Just last month, Prokhorov said the Nets were out of the running. He believed, at the time, that the speculation surrounding the trade talks for Anthony had cost the Nets "several games" and that it had "taken a toll on the players."

The Nuggets would like to deal Anthony to New Jersey because the Nets have apparently offered the best package -- one that reportedly involves multiple first-round draft picks. However, the Nets would have to persuade Anthony to sign a multi-year extension for the deal to go through.

The Bergen Record reported earlier Friday the Nets and Nuggets have agreed to a tentative trade, with the Nets landing Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Sheldon Williams, Melvin Ely and Renaldo Balkman from the Nuggets, who would receive Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round picks.

Anthony has maintained, although never outwardly, that he wants to play for the Knicks and would only sign an extension for a deal that would send him to New York. The Knicks believe the Nuggets are asking too much in a proposed trade for Anthony, especially if New York believes it could wait for Anthony to sign as a free agent in the summer.

However, Anthony could be leaving money on the table if he waits to become a free agent. A likely labor dispute and new collective bargaining agreement could change the amount of money the Knicks, or any other team, can offer through free agency.