Anthony: 'No Truth' To Nets-Nuggets Trade Report
DENVER (WFAN/AP) — Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri put the kibosh on the latest rumors and reports that star forward Carmelo Anthony was headed to the New Jersey Nets.
"There's nothing going on. Nothing," Ujiri told The Associated Press as he walked out of the Pepsi Center with team president Josh Kroenke following Denver's win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
"I would think if 'Melo was getting traded, he'd know that right? He's earned that," Ujiri said as Kroenke nodded in agreement.
Fueling the latest speculation was the three-team trade agreed to Tuesday between New Jersey, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers that netted the Nets two more first-round draft picks for potential use in a deal for Anthony.
"Oh, that's why y'all" are asking, Anthony said.
Adding fuel to the fire was a report from Denver's ABC affiliate Channel 7. "The Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets come to terms to trade Carmelo Anthony," the station tweeted late Tuesday night.
Multiple NBA insiders, including Adrian Wojnarowski, Chris Tomasson and J.A. Adande, have discounted Denver 7 report.
Anthony also thoroughly denied the report late Tuesday night, telling FanHouse's Tomasson, "It's terrible. There's no truth to it.''
The first Anthony heard of the latest buzz of a big trade to the Big Apple was from reporters crowded around his locker and checking their smart phones after he scored 35 points in the win over the Magic.
A day earlier, Anthony denied an ESPN report that he had told the Nuggets he would only accept a trade to the New York Knicks.
Talk has been swirling around Anthony ever since last summer, when he declined to sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension with the Nuggets, whom he's led to the playoffs seven straight seasons since turning pro after winning the national title at Syracuse as a freshman in 2003.
Anthony was born in Brooklyn and married TV personality LaLa Vasquez in an elaborate New York City ceremony last summer.
Asked if he was sentimental at all if this was his last game in Denver, Anthony replied, "Are you sending me out?"
Just relaying the reports, he was told.
"I've been listening to reports all summer," Anthony retorted. "I ain't thinking about that. I'm here. You'll see me suited up Thursday night."
In a Nuggets uniform?
"Of course," he said. "You'll see me here Thursday night, all right? Anything else?
"See you guys."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
