Carmelo Trade Off The Table For Nets?

The imminent trade that had roughly 13 players involved from three teams has apparently been called off. The New Jersey Nets were dead set on getting Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, but it appears that the price to pay, and the length of time it has taken is not worth it and they want to go in another direction.

The Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov told the team today to stop pursuing the trade, as well as canceled that rumored face-to-face meeting they were to have with Anthony in the coming days. Prokhorov spoke of the length, ramifications, and scrutiny that has come from the trade rumors.

"I'm not happy with the way ... this deal has gone until now," Prokhorov said. "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."

Anthony has been struggling specifically, having one of his worst stretch of games of his career. Included was a game where he failed to score in double digits, a rarity in his successful young career. Though it must be said that during the holiday season Anthony also lost his sister, who he was extremely close with, and has not quite performed at his usual level since. The fans of Denver have shown their displeasure with everything, and it appears that maybe they will have him a little bit longer at least.

A few questions arise from this. The first is whether or not the Nets are really done with the deal. They may be done with the trade, or may try to pursue it again without the public knowing as much as they had this first time, which seemed like every step of the way their were reports. Second option is the New York Knicks getting more actively involved in pursuit of Anthony. Carmelo wants to play in New York, and going to play with Amare Stoudemire, and perhaps a free agent pickup, or another trade, for another player he may want to play with and the Knicks are a huge contender.

The other two options are does a new team get involved now? Do the Bulls, the Los Angeles Clippers, any other teams that have not been in the running as of late now make a pitch for Anthony again? Finally, do the Nuggets not make any move, and rather take their chances on this season with Anthony and make a run towards the playoffs and NBA Finals?

This whole situation has been weird and sort of too in your face the entire team it seems. Carmelo is on the Nuggets, and I think that trade talk should be private simply because now Anthony is getting treated differently from the fans and the public. More over he is dealing with the loss of a sibling, which is truly terrible timing. I hope that this is resolved quickly and Anthony can get back on track with his season.

Just last night, after the trade was reportedly squashed, the Nets got a much needed win, and Anthony led the team in scoring with 35 points with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Maybe it is all working out already.