Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets Make Deal: Carmelo Anthony Says 'No Truth To It'

The Denver Nuggets are flying high after their 14^th win of the season, a 111-94 drubbing of the Orlando Magic.

And in the contest, Melo was magical, scoring a game-high 35 points with 11 rebounds and two assists—he pushed Denver to victory on Tuesday night.

Less than an hour after the win, Denver’s Channel 7 (ABC affiliate) has broken news that Carmelo Anthony, who’s been discussed in NBA trade rumors for months, has been traded to the New Jersey Nets.

This comes only two days after a report broke in which a source told them that Melo would not sign his three-year extension—the $65 million one that Denver offered him in June—unless the trade was to the New York Knicks.

It was a power play by the superstar, although Melo came back and refuted that any of it was said in the first place.

But with the Nets stacking first round picks recently—valuable trade assets that the Nuggets are in need of—the rumors once again gained momentum today.

Update: As of 10:15 p.m. MT, Denver’s Channel 7 is reporting that Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy and a first round pick in 2011 and 2012 will be traded in exchange for Carmelo Anthony. A Nuggets representative has announced that Denver has agreed to the framework of the trade, but no deal is done yet.

That’s because the deal is contingent upon Anthony deciding whether or not to sign the extension. If he does not, the deal will almost certainly not go through.

The ball is now in Melo’s court—it has become evident that he no longer wants to play in the Mile High City since he’s yet to sign the extension. He’ll have to decide whether or not playing in New Jersey now, and in Brooklyn, New York in 2012 (when the team moves there to its brand new arena) is worthwhile.

If so, the deal could go through as early as Wednesday.

Update: 10:37 p.m. MT: Chris Tomasson of NBA Fanhouse has just refuted the rumors tweeting, "A Nuggets official said rumor is false. I just talked to Melo and he said, 'It's terrible. There's no truth to it.'"

Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist actively seeking a career in journalism. Along with being an NBA, Denver Nuggets and Denver Broncos Featured Columnist for bleacherreport.com, Kurtzman is a Colorado/Utah Regional Correspondent for stadiumjourney.com, the CSU Rams Examiner and a weekly correspondent for milehighhoops.com.

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