By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES ? The theater of the absurd neared its apex Sunday as Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony awaited the final act to where he will be playing the remainder of the season.
By Joe Murphy, NBAE/Getty Images
LeBron James, left, and Carmelo Anthony are mobbed after All-Star practice on Saturday. Anthony said the trade talk was taking a toll.
By Joe Murphy, NBAE/Getty Images
LeBron James, left, and Carmelo Anthony are mobbed after All-Star practice on Saturday. Anthony said the trade talk was taking a toll.
?The New Jersey Nets? After a spokesperson for owner Mikhail Prokhorov put out a statement Saturday saying no meeting would take place with Anthony, one did that day.
?The New York Knicks? They put out a statement that former coach Isiah Thomaswasn't involved in negotiations for Anthony, who wants to play there.
?The Nuggets? They are "trying to get younger, save money," Anthony said, so what would it mean if they can't deal him by Thursday's deadline?
It got so hectic for Anthony this weekend that Miami Heat forward LeBron James stepped in and answered questions directed at his good friend.
Anthony on Saturday blamed the madness surrounding his future on New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, whose toast at Anthony's wedding last summer forecast a possible Amar'e Stoudemire-Anthony-Paul union with the New York Knicks.
"This is your fault, right?" Anthony said to Paul, who tried to stay out of it.
The three stars, who share the same agent, Creative Artist Agency's Leon Rose, sat side by side on a scorer's table, joking and laughing. But his future is no joke to Anthony, who said he wanted a legitimate deal in place by the time he left Los Angeles. As of Sunday, it wasn't.
James, in his season leading up to leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, did not have the daily onslaught of reporters seeking information the way Anthony has since he turned down a three-year, $65 million contract extension the Nuggets offered in the offseason.
"I was able to hide a little bit when it got heavy," James said. "He's still traveling every day, he's still playing games, he's still got to put on a uniform and represent the Denver Nuggets the right way."
Anthony has done that, averaging 26.3 points and shooting 46.1% in January and February. And he finally got his meeting with the Nets, despite the Jan. 19 announcement from Prokhorov that he was breaking off negotiations and was "absolutely clear" they would not restart. Then they did.
"It was a fantastic meeting, trust me," Prokhorov told CNBC for an interview that will run Tuesday. "No words, live music, excellent atmosphere. We looked into each other's eyes. Just real man talk."
Not to be outdone, the Knicks released a statement Sunday refuting reports that Thomas, the Florida International coach and former New York coach and president, is involved in the Anthony discussions: "We want to make it clear that no one from outside our organization has been involved in this process in any way."
The Nuggets are trying to squeeze every last asset from the Nets or Knicks. The Nets have the best offer for Denver, but there is no indication Anthony will sign the extension that New Jersey needs to make the trade. The Knicks, who think they can get Anthony as a free agent, don't want to give up too much for him now.
Anthony also must consider what the teams would look like after a trade.
Will the Knicks or Nets be able to compete soon with the Heat, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic in the East? "I'm not getting any younger," Anthony, 27, said in May.
Despite maintaining professionalism on the court, Anthony acknowledged the situation off it is taking its toll.
"I haven't gotten no sleep in a week. ? I do need my sleep," he said. "I don't need that much stress on me."
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