? Move would end speculation involving Denver's All-Star forward
? Money-spinning deal yet to be officially confirmed
The New York Knicks have beaten their rivals the New Jersey Nets to sign Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The move that would finish the season-long trade speculation involving Denver's All-Star forward and send him to his desired destination cannot be finalised until Tuesday during a conference call with the NBA office. Assuming it goes through, it puts Anthony alongside Amar'e Stoudemire in a potentially explosive frontcourt ? at a heavy cost to the Knicks.
The source provided no other details of who was in the deal, which was first reported on Monday by the Denver Post. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the trade.
The Post, citing a league source, said the Knicks would send Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov and a 2014 first-round draft pick to the Nuggets, who would get additional picks and cash. Along with Anthony, New York would acquire Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman.
ESPN later reported it was a three-way deal with Minnesota, who would acquire Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph from the Knicks for Corey Brewer.
The Nuggets have explored an Anthony trade since he refused to sign the three-year contract extension worth nearly $65m (�40.19m) they offered him last summer. They appeared on the verge of sending him to the Nets on several occasions, but the Knicks increased their offer enough to land Anthony, who was believed to prefer New York all along.
"All trades, for coaches, are sad, there's happy and sad. I'm glad it's over, I'm glad it's an opportunity to reinvent," the Denver coach, George Karl, said. "I think everybody handled it as classy as you can handle it. There's some sadness to it, there always will be. In the same, it's time to move on, reinvent."
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