Carmelo Anthony available, but Knicks balk at request for Gallinari, Felton, starter, Curry, pick
Carmelo Anthony could have been a Knick Monday if only team president Donnie Walsh were willing to meet Denver's trade demands, which one team official classified as "steep."
According to a team source close to the negotiations, "there is a deal to be made" but whether Anthony joins forces with Amar'e Stoudemire in New York between Tuesday and the Feb. 24 trade deadline likely comes down to the Nuggets either lowering their asking price or the Knicks turning over their roster to acquire one of the NBA's top players.
The Nuggets, according to a source, are asking for three starters - including Danilo Gallinari and Raymond Felton - plus Eddy Curry's expiring contract and at least one first-round pick. In that proposed deal, Anthony and veteran point guard Chauncey Billups would be coming to the Knicks.
It is believed that Walsh and Mike D'Antoni feel the team would be giving up too much. Garden chairman James Dolan has had direct involvement in the negotiations and may ultimately overrule his basketball staff.
The teams have nine days to play their game of chicken and the Knicks continue to debate if they should trade for Anthony now or take their chances on signing him as a free agent this summer.
The Nuggets are focusing on two teams - the Knicks and Chicago Bulls - because Anthony is willing to sign a contract extension with those clubs. Houston and Dallas remain outside possibilities while the Nets are the wild card.
Until the Bulls are willing to include Joakim Noah in a deal - which they're not - Chicago's talks with Denver aren't going anywhere.
Denver's interest in Felton isn't that surprising. He played under George Karl's long-time friend, Larry Brown, at Charlotte for two seasons and is eight years younger than Billups. However, Billups' $14 million salary for the 2011-12 season is a team option. If the team doesn't exercise that option, Billups receives a buyout worth approximately $4 million.
Felton appears to be unsettled by the trade talk and said on Friday he agreed with D'Antoni's theory that it is having an adverse affect on the team. Following Monday's practice in Greenburgh, Felton sat on the court and spoke to teammates Wilson Chandler and Bill Walker for approximately 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, Gallinari did not practice Monday and is bothered by a sore knee. It appears to be a legitimate injury but players who don't want to be traded have a history of coming down with sudden leg ailments.
