Motown Redezvous? Key to Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey Nets Goes Through Detroit

NBA sources have confirmed that the nearly certain Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey Nets deal hinges on a surprising team, the Detroit Pistons.

Late Friday night, the rumor around the league was that the newest member of the needed three-team deal to land the Denver Nuggets superstar to the East Coast is none other than the Pistons.

The reason that a third team is needed to land Melo is two-fold. First, the salaries need to match up, which New Jersey alone can not make happen. Second, Denver is still looking for at least three No. 1 picks to be included in the deal, and New Jersey would like to have another team's first rounder to pair with its next two.

The proposed trade in its current form would involve Carmelo and Chauncey Billups heading to Jersey with Detroit jettisoning Richard Hamilton to the Nets as well, effectively reuniting the former Pistons backcourt. Detroit would then take on Troy Murphy's expiring contract and at least one young player with Denver then receiving Devin Harris, Derick Favors and three first round draft picks.

If this deal goes through, Denver and New Jersey both come out huge winners here.

However, Detroit would have to be the dumbest franchise this side of New Orleans to pull the trigger on this deal.

The Pistons desperately want to get rid of Hamilton. He has a big contract, has pouted incessantly and his skills have eroded. He is the $21 million albatross hanging around the franchise's neck.

But this deal would effectively handicap any chance Detroit has on pulling out of its downward spiral.

The first round pick that Detroit would lose would be a likely top-five lottery pick. Unlike the NFL, NBA high draft picks are gold. The league has a rookie salary scale, meaning that lottery picks come relatively cheaply.

For a team with plenty of money committed long term, such as the Pistons, the lottery is the only way to improve relatively quickly.

It is way too early to determine whether this year's draft will be a deep one, but all indications are that it will be. Imagine Detroit being in a position to draft the next Blake Griffin, D-Wade or their own Carmelo Anthony.

Now imagine being the general manager that trades away a shot at grabbing one of those guys. Not a pretty picture.

Team president Joe Dumars has made some terrible moves over the past five years, but even he would never be this dumb. Look for him to stay involved in this discussion for a day or so, but this trade will never materialize in its current form. If Denver lightens its stance and instead takes back two second rounders in addition to the two first rounders, then we can talk.

But more than likely, much like Cleveland, Portland and a host of other teams that were discussed in a potential Melo deal, Detroit will pull its name out of the hat and New Jersey and Denver will try to rope another team into their threesome.

Don't get me wrong, I love about 90 percent of this deal, but the first rounder is just too much to give up.

Back to the drawing board, Mr. Dumars.