NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey Nets Becoming Real Possibility

The New Jersey Nets aren't just stockpiling future number one picks for nothing.

After trading swingman Terrence Williams in a three-team deal to the Houston Rockets and acquiring Sasha Vujacic's expiring contract from the Lakers, the Nets are putting themselves in prime contention to acquire Carmelo Anthony sooner rather than later.

The Nets are hoping that Anthony will sign the three-year, $65 million deal that Denver has on the table and then allow himself to be traded to the soon-to-be Brooklyn bound franchise. Will No. 15 be the inaugural member of the Brooklyn New Yorkers?

While there have been reports that multiple teams are in pursuit of the perennial all-star (and why wouldn't they be?), the Nets seem to have the best pieces to make it work. Orlando has reportedly made anyone not named Dwight Howard available in a possible trade with the Nuggets, and it's no secret that the New York Knicks are also in hot pursuit.

The newest team to join the conversation, the Dallas Mavericks, would be scary if they added Anthony, but much like the aforementioned two franchises, they don't have the resources that New Jersey does to pull the trigger.

With Denver reportedly looking to blow it up and start from scratch should they decide to move Carmelo, the Nets have several expiring contracts that could entice them: Troy Murphy, Sasha Vujacic, Quinton Ross, and Kris Humphries. While Vujacic, Ross, and Humphries aren't likely to induce much interest on the Denver side, Murphy's near $12 million contract coming off the books at the end of the season is a very good starting point should the Nuggets to pursue a deal centered around financial considerations.

It's impossible to get equal value in terms of talent for one of the best players in the game, but if talent is the desired return for Carmelo, the Nets have that, too. Although they're clearly unlikely to trade franchise center Brook Lopez or starting point guard Devin Harris, rookie (and the third overall pick in this last year's draft) Derrick Favors is very available in any deal for Anthony. Additionally, the Nets have three first round picks in 2011 and 2012 not including their own from the Lakers, Warriors, and Rockets. For a full explanation of how those picks break down, click here.

It has been thought that the only thing preventing the deal from completion has been Anthony's unwillingness to sign an extension with the Nets, but the team has reportedly never been told that he wouldn't. Rather, it's just been highly speculated that Carmelo will eventually join the Knicks once his current contract in Denver expires.

But if the Nets and their new billionaire owner can convince Anthony and his New York native wife LaLa Vasquez that a future in Brooklyn is the one that they desire?

Watch out.