Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: How Will Rumored Mega Deal Affect New Jersey Nets?

Carmelo Anthony will be traded this season. It's only a matter of when, and to who at this point.

Anthony has declined several contract extensions with the Denver Nuggets making him a free agent at season's end.

Instead of watching him walk this offseason, the Nuggets front office is determined to get something in exchange for Anthony.

Current trade rumors have Anthony heading east to join a rebuilding New Jersey Nets franchise.

Though the kinks still have to worked out, the three-team deal would send Anthony, and teammates Chauncey Billups, and quite possibly Al Harrington, to New Jersey along with Detroit's Rip Hamilton.

In return Denver would receive two first-round draft picks for the future as well as six players. The Nuggets in all likelihood would pick up Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and Anthony Morrow.

The other three players, Quinton Ross, Ben Uzoh and Stephen Graham, would simply be included for salary cap reasons.

Detroit is really just looking to lose some salary cap weight, they would acquire the Nets' Johan Petro as well as the expiring contract of Petro's teammate Troy Murphy.

Still however the man who started it all can end it all, that is Carmelo Anthony, if he chooses not to sign the three-year, $65 million extension with New Jersey.

It's anyone's guess at the current moment as to what Anthony will decide.

But, if this deal does indeed get done, the team that comes away with the most is clearly the New Jersey Nets.

New Jersey has been bullied by the rest of the league over the past few seasons after losing names like Richard Jefferson, Jason Kidd and Vince Carter.

The Nets are, as of the moment, 13th in the Eastern Conference at 10-27. Just five games out of the eighth and final playoff seed.

Is it possible though, that with the acquisition of Anthony and Billups, the Nets would have enough to challenge for a playoff spot, even though they are 17 games below .500 halfway through the regular season?

Who knows.

What we do know though is that Carmelo Anthony is one of the most talented players on the planet, and Chauncey Billups is one of the most underrated point guards in league history.

This trade no doubt makes New Jersey better from the get-go. It's just a matter of time.

How soon can they bring in the role-players to surround Anthony and his Denver teammates Billups and Harrington?

The Nets will definitely sell more tickets with Anthony in the building every night, as well as pick up more television exposure in coming seasons.

Even if the playoffs are a few years out of the picture, it's hard to make an argument that this megadeal doesn't benefit the New Jersey Nets in the long run.

Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.