DONE DEAL. MELO HEADS TO BIG APPLE
The saga is finally over. After one of the most protracted trade to and fros ever to intrigue the NBA, Carmelo Anthony is going to the New York Knicks in a three-way deal with Denver and Minnesota.
With a few details still to be revealed, the Knicks are also set to acquire Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman.
In return, the Knicks are sending Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Galinari and Russian centre Timofy Mozgov and a 2014 first round pick to the Nuggets.
On top, New York have extracted themselves from Eddy Curry’s bloated contract, sending the centre and Anthony Randolph to Minnesota in exchange for Corey Brewer.
“I’m glad it’s over,” Nuggets coach George Karl told the Denver Post. “I’m glad it’s an opportunity to reinvent. I think everybody handled it as classy as you could handle it. There’s some sadness to it, there always will be.”
It is expected that Italian international Galinari could be traded onward ahead of the NBA’s deadline on Thursday as the Nuggets set themselves into rebuilding mode.
Anthony had made it clear privately all season that New York was his preferred destination, scuppering a rival trade bid from the New Jersey Nets who had made a second push to bring him to Newark during All Star Weekend.
And that means no Melo in London next month.
The Team USA forward is now set to make his Knicks debut against Milwuakee on Wednesday having brought his seven-plus season stint in Colorado to a close.
After acquiring Amaré Stoudemire last summer, it is the second superstar piece at Madison Square Garden, deemed worthy of giving up four starters to ensure his arrival.
It looks likely he will sign a 3-year $65 million contract extension with the Knicks before the end of the season.
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