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Carmelo could force trade to Knicks this season: report

It seems more and more likely Carmelo Anthony will not sign a contract extension with the Nuggets, which likely will force the team to trade him, perhaps to the Knicks.

ESPN.com reported last night that Anthony is "going to make it real clear that he's not coming back" to Denver, according to an NBA source.

"Both Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke and Anthony already are well aware that they don't have a future together, sources say. That became clear to Kroenke at a reception after Anthony's July 11 (wedding) to La La Vasquez in Manhattan," the report says.

During the reception, Hornets guard Chris Paul and new Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire both mentioned in toasts that Anthony should join the Knicks. Anthony "apparently did nothing to discourage or dismiss the suggestions that he should leave the Nuggets," the report says.

Anthony, who grew up in Baltimore and played at Syracuse, could return to the East Coast in two ways: He could sign the three-year, $65 million extension the Nuggets have offered, then force the team to trade him. Or he could refuse to sign, leaving the Nuggets to trade him or receive nothing when he becomes a free agent after this season.

Either option could have Anthony in a Knicks uniform at the start of this season, or at the league's February trade deadline.

The Denver Post reports the Nuggets have maintained they will trade the high-scoring forward rather than lose him for nothing, and ESPN said, around the NBA, "The persistent belief is New York is where he wants to end up."

According to ESPN, the Knicks could offer Eddy Curry and his expiring contract to the Nuggets, along with players, in a trade.

Last week, Anthony said he had no timetable to sign the extension, a very lucrative deal considering the NBA's unstable labor situation heading into 2011-12. Other reports had those close to Anthony saying the Knicks are "perfect for him."

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/carmelo_could_force_trade_to_knicks_KuuvyH2kRDMAZWxccFM8PN#ixzz0wy2jtCQR

Carmelo 'better fit than LeBron' for the Knicks

Not only does Carmelo Anthony apparently have his heart set on playing in New York, but a close confidant of the NBA superstar told The Post yesterday that he is a better fit for the Big Apple than LeBron James.

"Nothing would bother him," the confidant said of Anthony playing here. "The media wouldn't bother him because he really likes people. The pressure wouldn't bother him because he loves to have the game in his hands. Nothing bothers him."
James recently spurned the Knicks, as well as the Cavaliers, to sign with the Miami Heat, torching years of Knicks salary dumping and excruciating losing seasons. Melo could save the plan.
Anthony, who recently married Brooklyn native La La Vazquez, loves the idea of teaming with Amar'e Stoudemire -- who had the courage to come to the Big Apple -- playing for Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and reaping the rewards that come with playing in the world's largest media market.

"He's a better fit for New York than LeBron," said the confidant. "Melo is one of those guys who could handle New York very, very well.

"He understands that part of the business and nothing scares him. He's fearless."

Anthony, who the Denver Nuggets want desperately to be the face of their franchise, has one year left on his deal before free agency.

He has not signed the Nuggets' offer of a three-year extension worth about $21.6 million annually.

That hesitancy, combined with the fact Anthony has put his Littleton, Colo., estate up for sale and toasts made at his July 11 wedding by Stoudemire and point guard Chris Paul, have the Nuggets fretting Anthony wants out of the Mile High City.

ESPN reported Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke has resigned himself to the probability Anthony won't remain in Denver.

Since Stoudemire, Paul and Anthony's brother Robert made statements at the wedding about Melo coming to NY, he has said nothing to Kroenke to dilute the talk.

"This isn't LeBron," said Anthony's confidant. "LeBron left his home. Melo would be coming home.

"And most people aren't aware of how generous he's been to Baltimore, Syracuse and Denver," added the source. "He's done great things everywhere he's been."

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/carmelo_better_fit_than_lebron_for_f5A5IAH6Wvc2ltkLDru8aP

Warriors, Hornets, Pacers in Amundson hunt

It’s not going to get people buzzing like the futures of Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul do in our post-LeBron world. Not even close.

Yet it does rank as one of the growing curiosities in the NBA this summer:

Why, on Aug. 18, is Louis Amundson still available?

With his high-energy contributions throughout Phoenix’s thoroughly unexpected run to the Western Conference finals, Amundson didn’t merely cement his standing as a fan favorite in the desert. He legitimately emerged as one of the faces synonymous with the Suns’ vaunted bench bunch last season, which had Phoenix privately fearful throughout the playoffs that Amundson could attract some decent free-agent dollars in spite of his well-chronicled limitations as an offensively-challenged power forward who’s also undersized.

Yet free agency is nearly seven weeks old and Amundson remains unsigned. He’s still waiting after watching the Suns decide to fill their Amare Stoudemire void by re-signing Channing Frye, signing Hakim Warrick and trading for Hedo Turkoglu to be a ball-handling power forward.

It appears, though, that Amundson’s wait might finally be ending. Sources close to the situation say that the 6-foot-9, 225-pounder is inching closer to a decision, with at least three teams known to be actively in pursuit – Golden State, New Orleans and Indiana. One source says an unidentified fourth team remains in the mix.

Another source told ESPN.com that the Hornets and Warriors are making the hardest push, but the Pacers have not been shy about their need for another big man after using Troy Murphy’s expiring contract last week to help facilitate the four-team traded that netted the point guard Indy has long coveted in Darren Collison

http://espn.go.com/blog/TrueHoop/post/_/id/19249/warriors-hornets-pacers-in-amundson-hunt

Hawks Reach Out To Boykins

The Atlanta Hawks have reached out to free agent veteran Earl Boykins, confirmed a league source to RealGM.

Boykins helped stabilize a tumultuous season for the Washington Wizards, appearing in 67 games and averaging 14.2 points per 36 minutes. His 09-10 season was a return to the NBA after a lucrative interlude playing in Italy for Virtus Bologna during the 08-09 season.

Despite being 34-years-old, Boykins remains one of the NBA's most effective scorers off the bench.

Boykins is amongst a group of veteran free agent guards, including Earl Watson, Jannero Pargo and Rafer Alston.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68721/20100817/hawks_reach_out_to_boykins/el/#ixzz0wszfug5m

Kiszla: Nuggets don't want to get LeBron'd by Carmelo Anthony

While deciding where he wants to spend the rest of his basketball life, Carmelo Anthony will do what's right by his family.

But believe this: Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke will do what is best for his hefty investment in an NBA franchise, even if that means trading Melo.
There is no way Denver can afford to lose the face of its franchise for nothing as a free agent.

The Nuggets are now considering a strategy to part ways with their 26-year-old star forward, according to a league source.

After quietly gauging trade interest in Anthony for weeks, the team's consternation has only risen as he has made no move to accept a $65 million offer for a three-year contract extension that was formally presented more than a month ago.

The Nuggets don't want to get LeBron'd.

LeBron James toyed with anxious minds in Cleveland before ripping out the hearts of Cavaliers fans by announcing a departure from his home state on live television. As was first reported by The Denver Post in June, the Nuggets are prepared to trade Anthony rather than watch him opt out of his contract next summer.

With a resume that includes an NCAA championship won at Syracuse and an Olympic gold medal that helped restore international luster for American basketball, Anthony has the skills to make the dream of the first NBA title in Denver a reality. But the team and its best player seem to have drifted slowly apart.

So what would be the trade market for Anthony?

His 28-point career scoring average through seven professional seasons should attract keen interest in Anthony from a franchise looking for a star to sell tickets in the regular season or hit a big shot at the buzzer during the playoffs. Anthony's contract situation figures to give him leverage in trade negotiations, because any team looking to add the 6-foot-8 forward would want to be assured of keeping his services long term.

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_15800179

Johnson looking forward to one day running own NBA team

The topic, dismissed even in recent months by veteran Lakers insiders, is no longer couched in whispered possibility but openly discussed as probability.

Magic Johnson will probably be splitting with the Lakers.

That comes from Johnson himself, with corroboration from owner Jerry Buss, and if Magic and one of his closest confidants are talking about a strong likelihood that an icon of the franchise and maybe even the city is ready to pack, there goes all doubt he wants it to happen. Or, rather, that he needs it to happen, because Johnson wants a large piece in a franchise or at the very least the chance to run a front office and neither of those will happen as the Lakers remain a Buss family operation.

There is even the contrast of how his public approach has changed. Trying to avoid speculation that he was ready to break with the only NBA home he has known, Johnson responded to a question in March that he was not part of a group looking to buy the Warriors when, in fact, he was very much involved with the credible bid of former 24 Hour Fitness head Mark Mastrov. By last week, though, the same Johnson, a Michigan native, was admitting his interest in becoming a minority owner of the Pistons and his openness to a prominent role in the front office even without a stake in his hometown franchise. And that was without being part of any interest organizing a bid or so much as having serious talks with any titan putting up most of the money.

Johnson, by all accounts very successful in private business, has become that aggressive in wanting to move into a leadership role with an NBA team.

"Life takes many turns," he said.

Including those away from the Lakers.

"I'll still be a Laker forever," Johnson said. "If there's a chance for me to go run a team, if I felt that's what I wanted to do, would I take it? Yeah, if the right situation came. I know one day that's gonna probably happen. I love being with Dr. Buss and the Buss family and working with them, but I know one day something is going to happen. I can definitely see me not being with the Lakers, yeah."

It's not just the thought of an all-time great leaving the franchise, and it's not even the fact that Magic was beloved as a charismatic player who defined the glam and clutch play of the Showtime era, or that he remains very popular and is cheered when his picture is flashed on the video board. That's Hall of Fame players in a lot of places.

This is someone whose relationship with Jerry Buss has always been more father-son than executive-player. Indeed, one of Buss' brightest memories in 31 years of running the Lakers is being a new owner in 1979, taking rookie Johnson to the Coliseum for a USC football game and hearing various people in the stands shouting "Magic!" as the pair walked to and from their seats. That was when Buss began to really comprehend the potential electricity of the teenager from Michigan State, and they have remained very close friends through the decades.

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/scott_howard_cooper/08/16/magic.johnson/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

Nuggets Waive Coby Karl, Brian Butch

The Nuggets have requested waivers on guard Coby Karl and center Brian Butch, a source said Saturday.

Both had contracts due to become fully guaranteed for next season had they remained with the team following Aug. 15. The source said the moves were made Friday, the last business day before Sunday's deadline, although the Nuggets made no announcement. Calls to Nuggets officials were not immediately returned.
Coby Karl is the son of Nuggets coach George Karl. Sources had told FanHouse earlier in the week the coach expected his son to be waived and was sending out feelers to see what other teams might be interested in him.

The Butch move appears controversial since he suffered a serious knee injury last month in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. It's expected the Nuggets must continue to pay Butch, who is out until January or February, until he's medically fit to play. Butch's agent, Keith Kreiter, declined comment.

The moves leave the Nuggets with 12 players with guaranteed contracts, one shy of the NBA roster minimum. Coby Karl was due to make the minimum of $854,389 and Butch the minimum of $762,195. The Nuggets are over the luxury-tax line so they also would have had to pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on the players had they been kept.

Coby Karl had been vying to be the first man to play for an NBA team coached by his father. Although he joined the Nuggets last April for the final week of the regular season, he did not get into a game. And Karl was not with the team then, having been replaced by assistant Adrian Dantley while he missed the final 1-1/2 months of the season due to a form of throat cancer.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/08/14/nuggets-waive-coby-karl-brian-butch/

Danny Granger Expects Pacers to Deal for a Big Man

First, Larry Bird said it. Now, Danny Granger is being even more specific about what type of move the Indiana Pacers soon could make.

Asked by FanHouse on Friday in Springfield, Mass., where Bird was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame along with members of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, the Pacers president said the team needs to make another trade before the start of the regular season. Asked by FanHouse about Bird's comments, Granger said management has told him to expect a move, and he figures they will look to acquire a big man.

"We're not done yet," Granger said after scoring 22 points for Team USA in a scrimmage Saturday against China at Madison Square Garden. "I talked to management, and we're not done yet. What will happen, I don't know yet. We're still mulling over it. But we got a few things still up our sleeve."

Granger let it be known what the Pacers need after recently dealing power forward Troy Murphy to New Jersey in a four-team trade which netted Indiana point guard Darren Collison and small forward James Posey from New Orleans.

"We're going to have to go after another big, I'm sure," said the 6-foot-8 Granger. "Losing Troy, he was great. I can play the (power forward) but I'm not a true (power forward). So we're definitely going to have to add another big, and I think that will be our main focus."

The Pacers have the expiring contracts of Mike Dunleavy ($10.56 million), T.J. Ford ($8.78 million) and Jeff Foster ($6.66 million) to dangle in trades. That Murphy has an expiring contract worth $11.97 million played a role in the Pacers getting into the four-team deal, enabling them to acquire a much-needed point guard.

"I love them," Granger said of the trade acquisitions. "I really love them. As soon as it happened, I called Darren Collison because I was really excited about it ... Amazing point guard. What he did for New Orleans when Chris Paul was out (the second half of last season with a knee injury). And I think in our system he'll really thrive. And he shot it well. I think, when he got drafted, they didn't know how good of a shooter he was."

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/08/14/danny-granger-expects-pacers-to-deal-for-a-big-man/

Billups '100 percent hopeful' on 'Melo

Chauncey Billups said he may know something about Carmelo Anthony's future after speaking with his Nuggets teammate the past few days. But Billups is keeping it quiet.

Anthony's $65 million contract extension with Denver is growing spider webs on the table. Billups said he hopes Anthony makes a decision on whether or not to sign the extension before the season, so he won't be asked about it in every city.

"I'm 100 percent hopeful," Billups said after Team USA's practice at the Knicks practice facility in Westchester County. "It's between me and my guy. If y'all have a close personal friend and they're going through something and the media asks, you're not going to expose that. Y'all find out when he wants y'all to know."

Anthony, who has had interest in the Knicks, has been in New York supporting Team USA, which faces China in a scrimmage today at the Garden and hosts France tomorrow. Anthony sat on Team USA's bench during Thursday's scrimmage at Radio City Music Hall.

In a clinic at Rucker Park yesterday for the Nike World Basketball Festival, a fan asked Anthony about his future.

"I'm signing a three-year extension -- with Rucker Park," Anthony said, deadpan.

Anthony told The Post on his last visit to Rucker Park in June he didn't like the college recruiting process and wouldn't look forward to being recruited again -- a possible hint he plans to stay in Denver.

Though Billups can't be certain he and Anthony will be teammates much longer, he sees a long, prosperous future with former Knick Al Harrington, who signed a five-year, full mid-level contract with the Nuggets in July. The Post asked Billups if Harrington was underappreciated in New York.

"He had some good times and obviously he had some stretches where he didn't play that well," Billups said. "But I thought he could've been very, very valuable here as a Knick."

Billups hinted the Knicks had no leaders for Harrington to follow, seemingly taking a shot at coach Mike D'Antoni.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/billups_mum_on_melo_BONH2Zch0jTaQn59H4o2EJ#ixzz0wbXWnroN

Spurs reach out to Ferry

The Spurs could tab a familiar name to fill a void in their front office.

Team officials have reached out to Danny Ferry to gauge his interest in returning to the organization he left in 2005 to become the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ferry, who played the final three seasons of his career with the Spurs and still maintains a house in San Antonio, retired after the 2002-03 campaign to join the team's front office. He spent two seasons in middle management under general manager R.C. Buford and president of basketball operations Gregg Popovich before leaving in June 2005 to take the Cleveland job.

A position in the Spurs' chain of command came open last month, when vice president of basketball operations Dell Demps accepted the GM job in New Orleans.

The 43-year-old Ferry, meanwhile, has been unemployed since June 4, when he resigned his post in Cleveland in a move viewed as part the Cavs' unsuccessful effort to re-sign LeBron James. Since departing Cleveland, Ferry had been linked to general manger vacancies in Portland and New Jersey that eventually went to others.

It is unclear whether the Spurs are looking for someone to fill Demps' role directly, or whether there might be a reshuffling of duties among front-office personnel. It is also unclear whether the new front-office candidate would take on Demps' title as general manager of the Austin Toros, the Spurs' affiliate in the Development League.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/spurs_reach_out_to_ferry_100595169.html