The Denver Nuggets put their Carmelo Anthony demands on the table on Monday, and Knicks president Donnie Walsh decided that they were simply too "steep."
According to the New York Daily News, the Nuggets asked for three starters, two of whom would be Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari, plus Eddy Curry's expiring contract and a first-round pick. In addition to receiving 'Melo, the Knicks would also be taking on the pricy Chauncey Billups.
Walsh and head coach Mike D'Antoni felt that the team would be giving up too much, but owner James Dolan could potentially intervene and push the deal through. However, if Anthony is not dealt by the Feb. 24 deadline, most expect him to sign with the Knicks in the offseason anyway. Given that the addition of Anthony would not likely make the Knicks title contenders this season, that seems the more sensible option — as long as the Nuggets can't trade him to another team with which he would sign an extension.
Accordingly, Denver is attempting to work out a deal with Chicago as well, and an Anthony for Andrew Bynum deal had been rumored, though news on that front has gone quiet in recent days. New Jersey, a team for which it was never clarified whether or not Anthony would sign an extension, took itself out of the running in late January following months of rumors.
Felton has reportedly been "unsettled" by the talk, and believes that such has been detrimental to the team's performance. The Knicks are just one game over .500, dropping towards the edge of the playoff picture since enjoying an 8-5 December.
