Fred Kerber writes the Nets are legitimate contenders for Carmelo Anthony if, as expected, he and the Nuggets make him available...but the price could be high, as in Brook Lopez high.
After talking to numerous movers and shakers around the NBA, Kerber reports the Nets are "very interested" although they haven't had discussions yet with Denver. "The price of course would be steep," he adds. "One team insider intimated that for a player of Anthony's stature, no current Net would be deemed untouchable, including Brook Lopez."
However, an opposing team executive suggests to Kerber that 'Melo, who has some leverage in the matter, might not want to play for a Nets team that doesn't include Lopez.
As Stefan Bondy writes, the Nuggets are likely to wait to see who gives them the best offer for Anthony and in fact a bidding war may very well break out for a player who would meet Mikhail Prokhorov's definition of the "very best of the best". Meanwhile, Sam Amico of NBA.com tweets that "Early word around NBA is Nuggets will try to trade Carmelo to 1 of 3 teams: Wolves, Kings, Nets. In other words, careful what you wish for." The three teams had the three worst records in the NBA last season.