Friday is Media Day for the Nets but one player who won't be there is stealing the thunder. Ken Berger reports the the Nets are still in the lead for Carmelo Anthony, saying "Melo's camp remains insistent upon a trade to New York, New Jersey or Chicago".
The Nuggets, Berger reports, want Brook Lopez but the Nets have said no. What New Jersey can offer, he writes, includes the "No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors, the expiring contracts of Troy Murphy and Kris Humphries, and multiple draft picks (with Golden State's 2012 first-rounder potentially the most valuable)".
Quoting "sources", Berger adds that a deal could be dependent on the Nets coming up with a top-flight swingman to replace 'Melo. How? "They've been canvassing the league for a trading partner, with the most likely result continuing to be sending guard Devin Harris to a third team that possesses a skilled wing player."
Meanwhile, Fred Kerber says Lopez is "the only untouchable" on the team because the Nets see 'Melo as a "top five player". That means they're willing to deal Favors, if necessary.