Apparently, New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov waits for nobody, and he doesn't appreciate his team's business getting out into the public.
According to ESPN.com, the Russian owner has instructed his front office to end its pursuit of Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony.
"I'm not happy with the way, how this deal has gone until now," said Prokhorov before the Nets' game on Wednesday. "It has taken too long. It has been played out in public, and it certainly has taken a toll on the players and I believe that it has cost us several games. I think management did a great job, but there comes a time when the price is simply too expensive. I'm instructing our team to walk away from the deal."
The Nets have been trying to swing a deal with the Nuggets — and a likely a third team, the Pistons — for weeks now. The biggest obstruction in the deal, however, was likely the talks, or lack thereof, of a contract extension for Anthony. The forward is a free agent following the 2010-11 season.
