Carmelo Anthony Report: New Jersey Nets Looking To Commit Highway Robbery

According to ESPN the New Jersey Nets have been sited as the front-runners to attain the services of All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony. The Nets’ have proposed a three-player and draft pick deal to attain Anthony. No reports have been issued on the validity of this claim.

What has been reported is this. The Nets have proposed a deal that includes Derrick Favors (third pick in the 2010 draft), Troy Murphy, and Kris Humphries. Also included is at least next years first round draft pick but it is conceivable that one or two more will be included. Here is what was reported.

“Several league sources on Monday told ESPN.com that they believe the Nets have emerged as the front-runner to secure Anthony. Not only is Anthony willing to sign a contract extension with the Nets, sources say the club is willing to make an intriguing offer of  Derrick Favors (the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft), the expiring contracts of Troy Murphyand Kris Humphries and at least one future first-round pick to Denver to land Anthony.”

“A source close to the Nets told ESPN.com that he wasn’t ready to concede that the Nets were the front-runners for Anthony’s services, nor were they willing to confirm what the Nets would offer. However, the source did acknowledge that New Jersey was in serious consideration based on the Nuggets’ reluctance to trade Anthony to a Western Conference team and the Nets’ combination of expiring contracts, draft picks, and a young player with serious upside.”

Murphy is set to make $12 million next season (the final year of his contract). Derrick Favors is set to make $4.1 million in the first year of a five year contact. Humphries is set to make $3.2 million in the final year of his deal.

That’s a little over $19 million in proposed salary for next season. Carmelo Anthony is set to earn $17.1 million this upcoming season. With the Denver Nuggets being $25 million over the cap, the deal will have to be dollar for dollar.

So either there’s no truth to the rumors of the deal or the Nuggets will either be including Renaldo Balkman, Aaron Affalo, or Ty Lawson in the deal to make the financial obligations match.

Either way, the Nets appear to be putting themselves in a position to commit highway robbery.

There’s no reason the Nuggets should make this deal. Even if they get multiple first round picks with the deal. With Anthony joining the current Nets’ roster, there’s virtually no way the draft selections will be lottery picks.

They have to attain Brook Lopez in any deal with the Nets. New Jersey is doing a lot of posturing right now; claiming Lopez is not available in any deal with any team. I refuse to believe that they wouldn’t trade the soon to be third year pro for a bona fide super star.

It’ll be interesting to see what other teams pony-up as offers. As of now, the Denver Nuggets look as if their ready to be punked by the New Jersey Nets.