From RealGM:
Carmelo Anthony said he doesn't know where he'll be traded and expressed concern about getting a contract extension signed before the new collective bargaining agreement is in place.

"At this point, I really don’t know," Anthony said about where he thinks he'll end up.

"New Jersey took that deal off the table. In order for me to consider them, I’d have to agree to the meeting. Now, it’s washed under the table," he continued.

He was asked if the options are strictly New Jersey, New York, Chicago and Denver.

"Yeah. But I really can’t say it’s just those, because I don’t really know (what could happen)," Anthony replied.

Said the writer to Anthony, "If they trade you somewhere, and you don’t sign the extension, you’re screwed." Then the writer quickly hedged by adding, "Well, not necessarily screwed." But Anthony agreed with the original assertion, smiling and repeating, "Screwed."

"There are a lot of things that come into play when you look at this situation," Anthony said. "The fact that they can send you wherever they want to. The fact that, wherever they send me, would I sign the extension there? It’s a lot of stuff I think about through all of this."

"I haven’t had any dialogue with (team executive) Masai (Ujiri) or anybody like that," Anthony said. "Usually I talk to Masai, but a lot of stuff has died down. I’m pretty sure they’ve been behind closed doors, doing what they do. But I haven’t talked to them personally."

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/71340/20110125/carmelo_expresses_concern_about_getting_extension_done/#ixzz1C9mMdKAN

The saga drags on. I am starting to get really sick of his unwillingness to say "It's NY Knicks or Go #@&$^# Yourselves!"

I'm about ready to say "*bleep* you, Melo. We're done chasing primadona starhucks. We're building a contender without you if you don't step up now and lay claim to your desires."

WASHINGTON — Today I caught up with Carmelo Anthony, and for the first time, I really felt a sense of uncertainty from the guy.

Asked where he thought he’d be traded, the Nuggets all-star said, “At this point, I really don’t know.

“New Jersey took that deal off the table. In order for me to consider them, I’d have to agree to the meeting. Now, it’s washed under the table.”

I Asked: Are the options strictly New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Denver?

Melo said, “Yeah. But I really can’t say it’s just those, because I don’t really know (what could happen).”

This, of course, is in reference to the reality that Denver could trade Melo to a team he doesn’t want to play for long-term. If that happens, then he might not sign the three-year, $65 million contract extension to play for that team. Instead, he’d opt out of his current contract and be a free agent this summer, likely signing with the Knicks. But – he would take a significant pay cut, due to the new collective bargaining agreement.

I asked, “If they trade you somewhere, and you don’t sign the extension, you’re screwed …” But then, before he could answer, I justified by saying, “Well, not necessarily screwed…” But, Melo flashed a smile and said: “Screwed.”

He continued: “There are a lot of things that come into play when you look at this situation. The fact that they can send you wherever they want to. The fact that, wherever they send me, would I sign the extension there? It’s a lot of stuff I think about through all of this.”

Asked what’s going to happen next, Melo said, “I haven’t had any dialogue with (team executive) Masai (Ujiri) or anybody like that. Usually I talk to Masai, but a lot of stuff has died down. I’m pretty sure they’ve been behind closed doors, doing what they do. But I haven’t talked to them personally.”

I joked to Melo that there is a new phrase going around the NBA – “Melo fatigue,” in reference to people just worn down from talking and debating about Melo all season.

“If this is fatiguing for everyone, imagine how it is for me,” he said with a grin. “I still have to go out there and perform on the basketball court.”

Tonight is Denver’s lone game in D.C., so it’s a homecoming for Anthony, who spent ages 9-16 in nearby Baltimore. His mother will be in a suite tonight at Verizon Center.

“It feels good because she hasn’t been able to get out to Denver as much as she has in the past,” he said. “I’ll see her, family, friends, people from Baltimore and D.C.

The only thing I’ll miss is seeing my sister (who recently passed away). She usually would come to this game, a game she always looked forward to. I know she’s watching.”

Source: http://blogs.denverpost.com/nuggets/2011/01/25/carmelo-anthony-discusses-his-future/

Carmelo getting antsy. Lots of money on the table and he cant wait to grab it.

Denver knows this which is why they are dragging their feet.

Why shouldn't he worry as much about the possibility of the new CBA decreasing his salary drastically? I just don't see the new CBA limiting the salaries of the top guys by much more than currently specified. Are the top guys that are FAs going to be forced to make less than some of the guys that signed last year (Gay, JJ)? I seriously doubt it. I can't see the players association ever agreeing to that.

Nalod wrote:http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AlqoMXomMyamaN7igRvM8Qm8vLYF?slug=aw-anthonynuggets012611

I told you guys the very minute Prokhorov spoke that he was just taking the talks underground and lowering the price.

Russians don't beg.

Melo wants that extension and thats why he won't be a knick. He'll take the money to brooklyn instead.

For winning sake, unless the Nuggs are cutting down to bone and rebuilding I don't know why he does not stay. They can reboot the team with him in place faster than depleating the Nets.

If he goes for the money then Nuggs have the Leverage and Nets have more to offer.

We won't blow up the team for Melo if Walsh is speaking his truth.

Argue it all day long. Most here want Melo but not as a starphuch. There is a trade limit to what should be done here. I think from what I read Walsh won't cross the line.

At the end of the day, it looks like Melo "Blinked".

honestly, he should stay in denver then. I am more interested in getting marc gasol. i think he helps us a lot more right now....

Killa4luv wrote:who is advsing him? lol. He can't be this dumb. y show ur hand? Even if u r hard pressed for the money, y let everyone know. PLus the reality is, he doesn't know if he's screwed or not because he could sign the extension and have that money reduced anyway. How stupid would he feel then? PLaying with Brook Lopez as his #2.

He has no clue how to negotiate.

How can he negotiate when he is under contract AND wants to extend? People forget he is under contract for 18 million next year if he chooses to be. If he was actually willing to risk the new CBA he would have kept him mouth closed and not requested a trade.

the owners will probably demand a similar structure to the NHL during their lockout. Many of the more lucrative contracts were scaled back to the point that new signings were worth more, and each team was allowed to buy a player out for a 1/3 (if I remember correctly) of their contract value

MS wrote:Amazing; not only was the kid dumb enough not to have the opt out in the contract with the rest of his buddies, now after making close to 100M and 18M coming to him next year he is screwed. Can't make this stuff up.

Melo did fire the agent that negotiated his current deal. And his new representation actively pushed the NJ deal because they don't get a cent from him until they negotiate a new deal.

Melo flashed a smile and said: “Screwed.”

This is all you need to know about this article. It is based on the author's interpretation of Melo's smile.
Rather, its Moonangie's interpretation of the point of the article based on the author's interpretation of Melo's smile.
Meaningful stuff.

Panos wrote:

Melo flashed a smile and said: “Screwed.”

This is all you need to know about this article. It is based on the author's interpretation of Melo's smile.
Rather, its Moonangie's interpretation of the point of the article based on the author's interpretation of Melo's smile.
Meaningful stuff.

Umm... huh? I ain't interpreting shyte. The article said Melo smiled and SAID "screwed". Anyway, wtf difference does it make? He feels like he needs an extension, which means he may prefer to resign with Denver or wherever they send him. Regardless, it ain't here.

So my point is it's geting to be "move on" time from this BS.

TMS wrote:why isn't Carmelo entitled to go through the same process that any other free agent is entitled to go through? was Amare a primadonna starphuch because he didn't come out & say "It's NY Knicks or go F yourselves" this past year? i think Melo has pretty much made it clear about his desire to play for the Knicks, i don't know what else u expect him to do w/o completely destroying any negotiating leverage he might have left at this point.

I expect him to say "NY biatches!" Plain and simple. All the waffling back and forth is lame. Just my opinion, so don't get yo' panties in a wad.