The Carmelo Anthony trade saga is finally over.
The Nuggets traded Melo to the New York Knicks tonight, a league source said. Denver gets Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks 2014 first-round draft pick, the Warriors’ 2012 second-round pick, the Warriors’ 2013 second-round pick and $3 million in cash.
Anthony will go to New York, along with Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman.
Anthony was not at the Nuggets’ practice as the team resumed workouts following the All-Star break. Billups left the team’s Monday practice without speaking to reporters.
Nuggets coach George Karl, after learning of the trade, said:
“I’m glad its over. I’m glad it’s an opportunity to reinvent. I think everybody handled it as classy as you could handle it. There’s some sadness to it, there always will be.”
A source said the Knicks will send Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to Minnesota as part of the deal.
As part of the trade, Denver will lose a veteran point guard and hometown favorite in Billups.
“I think Chauncey will go down as one of the greatest winners,” Karl said.” His record of what, eight, seven, eight conference finals? That’s incredible. That’s who he is and what he stands for.
“I think there are many people, including myself, that will be sad for Chauncey. I know he loves Denver and we love him.
“But things happen and decisions have to be made, and I’m 100 percent behind the decision that we made, even though it will be dangerous and won’t be the veteran point guard back there.”
When asked about the players from New York he will soon have on his roster, Karl said:
“I think they play exciting basketball. They are exciting young players.
“How we rebuild our team and construct it, there are going to be some tough moments,” Karl said. “But I think it will be fun to see how fast this team will come together, how it will grow up and how fast it can prove itself to be a playoff caliber team.
“My hope and desire is to continue to be a playoff team.”
Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said Monday after practice, after learning of the trade:
“I mean, it’s just rebuilding first. We gotta go forward with what we got. And try to do the best we can in the playoffs.”
When asked if there’s time this season to salvage a Nuggets playoff run, Smith said:
“I think there is. Our backs have been up against the wall many times before.”
The trade will not be made official until the team’s conduct a conference call with league officials Tuesday morning.
