Melo Was Ready to Play with the Nets

Carmelo Anthony said Thursday what he hinted at before: he thought he'd wind up not with Knicks, but with the Nets. And since he had always insisted he would sign an extension before the trade deadline, he implied that he'd have signd with the Nets as well. 'Melo talked about the last minute trade talks on "The View".

"I think it was a lot of negotiation back and forth between a lot of the teams," said Anthony, who was joined on the TV show by his wife, LaLa Vasquez. "With the Knicks, it came down to the last hour before the trade deadline, and it happened. Me personally, I thought I was going to end up in New Jersey."

The Nets had offered the Nuggets a package of Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh, four first round picks and $3 million for Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Melvin Ely and Shelden Williams. The four picks being offered were the Nets' 2011 pick; the Lakers' 2011 pick; the Warriors' 2012 pick; and the Rockets' 2012 pick. Two days later, of course, the Nets bagged Deron Williams for Favors, Harris and two picks: the Nets' 2011 pick and the Warriors' 2012 pick, and $3 million. Separately, the Nets sent Murphy to the Warriors for two expiring contracts, Dan Gadzuric and Brandan Wright.

• Melo: 'I thought I'd end up in New Jersey' - Jared Zwerling - ESPN New York