Anthony doubts trade is imminent

Associated Press

DENVER

Carmelo Anthony doesn’t think a trade to New Jersey is imminent and he expressed remorse Monday that teammate Chauncey Billups’ name has been dragged into this drama.

A day after reports the Nets were closing in on a deal for the Denver Nuggets’ All-Star forward, Anthony said he doesn’t see himself heading to New Jersey anytime soon.

“That’s my feeling. I don’t think so. I don’t want to elaborate on that anymore. That’s just my own personal feeling,” Anthony said following practice.

Asked if he would sign his three-year, $65 million extension to facilitate a trade to the Nets, Anthony said: “I really don’t know.”

“I’m waiting to see Masai and Josh, wherever they at,” he added, referring to Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri and team president Josh Kroenke. “Pretty sure they’re working on whatever they’re working on right now. They haven’t been here. I’m waiting patiently until they get back so I can sit down with them.”

Anthony said he was sorry that Billups’ name has been brought up in a proposed three-team deal involving Detroit.

Billups is a Denver native who wants to stay in his hometown following his trade from the Pistons a couple of years ago. Billups has intimated that if he’s traded to the Nets, he might ask them to tear up his contract after the season so he could return to Denver.

“He was looking forward to retiring here, whenever he’s done,” Anthony said. “To see him and all this stuff that’s going on right now, I feel bad about it. I guess that’s the business of basketball.”

Billups didn’t practice Monday; the team said he wasn’t feeling well.

Despite Anthony’s skepticism, talks on the three-team trade with the Nuggets and Pistons continued Monday, a person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press.

The reported deal would reunite Billups and Richard Hamilton in New Jersey along with Anthony, the person said on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss the talks.

New Jersey would send rookie power forward Derrick Favors, point guard Devin Harris and others to Denver in the deal that would get them Anthony, Billups, Hamilton, Shelden Williams and Terrico White, who is injured.