KBerg_CBS Ken Berger
Multiple sources tell @CBSSports that #Knicks, #Nuggets closing in on Melo deal; expected to be finalized Tuesday. #NBA
http://bit.ly/hF00qGKnicks close in on Melo dealPosted on: February 21, 2011 9:57 pm
The Knicks and Nuggets closed in on a trade sending Carnelo Anthony to New York Monday night, with multiple league sources telling CBSSports.com that the trade was on the brink of happening.
The framework of the deal, which is expected to be completed Tuesday, would send Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and New York's 2014 first-round pick to Denver for Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams and Anthony Carter, sources said. The Timberwolves were fully on board with the deal, agreeing to take Eddy Curry's expiring contract along with Anthony Randolph from the Knicks. Corey Brewer would go from Minnesota to Denver.
The Nets, whose pursuit of Anthony was on the verge of ending Monday night, were not fully committed to taking two Knicks from Denver, according to one of the people briefed on the negotiations. The Nets' involvement depends on which two of the four ex-Knicks the Nuggets want to trade after completing the deal with New York. It is believed that Nuggets officials want some degree of assurance that they can flip two of the Knicks players they are getting for draft picks, which they value more.
It was presumed earlier Monday that Denver would flip Gallinari and Mozgov to New Jersey for two first-round picks, providing the final incentive for Denver to part with its franchise player and four-time All-Star. But sources indicated Monday night that the Nets may actually want Felton in that scenario, and that New Jersey prefers Felton over acquiring Andre Miller from Portland in one of several separate potential trades they are discussing.