Waiting On A Blockbuster

The biggest story in the NBA right now still consists only of stories, not an actual transaction. The Anthony updates piled on with increasing urgency Sunday, walking us up to the verge of a deal that would send Anthony and Nuggets teammate Chauncey Billups plus Detroit's Richard Hamilton to the Nets; Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, two draft choices and Anthony Morrow, Quinton Ross, Ben Uzoh and Stephen Graham to the Nuggets; and Troy Murphy and Johan Petro to the Pistons.

The principals -- Denver, New Jersey, Carmelo and Favors -- are the same as in a multiteam deal that fell apart in September. Ever since then it's been an oscillating wave of rumors about Anthony, finally ramping up last week after Anthony's agent, Leon Rose, brought client Hamilton and the Pistons into the mix, coinciding with two dismal losses by the Nuggets (with their full complement of players finally available) against the Clippers and Kings.

Three executives I talked to Sunday night said the Nuggets have been holding up the process, perhaps because they're understandably reluctant to part ways with the franchise player.

One team executive said, "You've got to understand you're dealing with a first-time GM [Masai Ujiri] and a first-time president [Josh Kroenke]. They've got to come to grips with the fact they're trading Carmelo Anthony."