The
New Jersey Nets,
Los Angeles Lakers and
Houston Rockets have agreed in principle on a three-way trade that will send
Terrence Williams(notes) to Houston, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Lakers guard
Sasha Vujacic(notes) and a 2012 first-round pick from Houston will go to New Jersey. Nets forward
Joe Smith(notes) will join the Lakers, who also will send their 2011 first-round pick to New Jersey. In an effort to create luxury-tax savings by trading Vujacic?s $5.5 million salary for Smith?s $1.35 million, the Lakers were willing to include their first-round pick.
The Nets now own five first-round draft picks in the next two years, including two of their own, the Lakers? (2011), Golden State?s (2011) and Houston?s (2012).
For the Nets, this was a deal to strengthen their hand with the Denver Nuggets on a play for All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony. The Nets have already offered the Nuggets their most attractive package so far ? including rookie Derrick Favors, the expiring contract of Troy Murphy and two first-round picks. Now, the Nets have a deeper war chest to bid on Anthony.
So far, Anthony prefers a trade to the New York Knicks, where he?d agree to sign a contract extension. Yet, New York doesn?t have a package of assets that appeals to Denver?s front office as much as the one the Nets have been able to offer.
While Anthony hasn?t shown a great willingness to play for the Nets, he hasn?t ruled it out. The Nets believe if they can get a trade agreement in place with Denver, they could call upon owner Mikhail Prokhorov and coach Avery Johnson to sell Anthony on a compromise of committing to an extension with the Brooklyn-bound Nets.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AoPXck3xVctpqUTkKvfr7ZU5nYcB?slug=aw-williamsrockets121410
TWO THINGS HERE:
NETS are definitely the favorite in DENVER's eye. Nets have plenty of assets DEN is looking for.
NETS also block the KNicks, b/c there were reports NY was looking to re-acquire the #1 pick the traded to HOU last year. NOPE. The Nets swooped in and swiped that pick away.
STILL.... It's all about Carmelo Anthony.
The Nets could have every first round pick in the next 2 drafts... Doesn't do much to sway 'Melo right? If Carmelo refuses to sign an extension, NO WAY the Nets push fwd with this deal.
SURE, they might go as far to make trade anyway and take the risk, mainly to screw the KNicks and hope they can convince 'Melo to stay....
BUT, if Carmelo Anthony truly wants to play with Ama're, and play on the MSG stage, and if his heart is set on the Knicks.... It will happen in July. AND, if Carmelo is smart... He waits and signs as a free agent. He has to know that his best chance to wina title... And isn't this about championships?
If Carmelo wants to join the Knicks and do more than just compete.... The Knicks must be able to keep their young players. Otherwise, the Knicks are good but not great.
SO, we will soon see:
1) How badly does 'Melo want to be a Knick.
2) How badly does he want to win a title.