Via NY Post:

The Post has learned the Nuggets made a whopping demand one week ago that is more exorbitant than recent reports. According to a league source debriefed on Carmelo Anthony negotiations, Denver asked for Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and a first-round pick (obtained via Anthony Randolph) for Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups….

The Knicks management was flabbergasted, according to the league source.

This is officially a joke.  First, we must question Marc Berman’s “league source.”  Next, we must hit the IGNORE button on all of this Melo chatter.

For the month of February, the Knicks are not showing any signs of securing the 6th spot in the NBA playoffs.  Over the course of the last two weeks, we’ve seen them go 2 – 6, with losses that only occurred because of lackadaisical play by all.

It’s great to be vocal via the media, but there is far too much PR hype in play and not enough quality play on the court.  At 27-26, the Knicks now are faced with the daunting task of trying to win at least 40 -43 games to solidify a playoff berth.  If not for the fact that two potential playoff teams will have sub-500 records, the Knicks are not showing anyone that they are for real. (more…)

Via CBS Sports:

While the Nuggets realize they will have to seriously engage the Knicks in trade talks for Anthony before the Feb. 24 deadline, a third team already has stepped into the on-deck circle as a potential facilitator if talks between Denver and New York ever gain traction. That team, sources say, is the Timberwolves, who are willing to absorb Eddy Curry‘s $11.3 million expiring contract in a three-team scenario that would send Anthony Randolph to Minnesota and Anthony to New York.  In this scenario, which one executive involved deemed “unlikely,” the Wolves would simply waive Curry after the trade. Depending on the timing, Curry would likely have only five paychecks remaining for a total of $4.7 million. So taking on Curry would involve little or no cost to Minnesota; if the Wolves could negotiate a $3 million buyout covering the remainder of Curry’s salary, that tab would be fully picked up by the Knicks, who could send as much as $3 million cash to Minnesota in the trade. But Curry’s $11.3 million cap number would help make the complicated trade math work in a three-team deal. The Nuggets aren’t interested in Curry’s expiring contract, sources say, and the only other team with enough cap space to take it on without sending back equal salary is Sacramento — which has yet to be invited into any Knicks-Nuggets discussions. If the Knicks and Nuggets aren’t going to do business before the deadline, perhaps leaving Anthony in free-agent limbo heading into a new collective bargaining agreement, then Minnesota would still be interested in Randolph — and would be willing to give up a low first-round pick and absorb Roger Mason ($1.4 million) into their cap space in a one-on-one deal.

Via NY Daily News:

Among big men, the Knicks reportedly have talked about Portland‘s Joel Przybilla and Memphis‘ Marc Gasol. However, they have concerns about Przybilla’s health and whether he’d be a good fit in their offense. With Marcus Camby out for at least a month following knee surgery, Przybilla is starting now and perhaps will be able to allay some concerns that he has not fully recovered from a severe knee injury.

As for Gasol, the Knicks and several other teams believe that Memphis will not deal him and instead will attempt to re-sign the restricted free agent this summer.

Walsh has acknowledged that he’s looking for a big man, but has not given up on Anthony Randolph, who has played in only one game since Dec. 22. Randolph is seen as potential trade bait if the Knicks try to get a No. 1 pick to include in a package for Anthony.

Via Newsday:

But Randolph might not get moved for a pick after all; a person with knowledge of the Nuggets’ thinking told Newsday that they might ask that he be included in the negotiations.

The source also said the Nuggets don’t hold rookie Landry Fields in high regard, which would come as some relief to the Knicks, who are hesitant to give up too much of their young talent.

Business Insider apologizes sincerely in an update of their story from this morning and explains what went wrong:

“We called our source, a friend of Randolph’s, to find out where things went wrong. Here’s the explanation:

Randolph told the source he was going to be traded by the end of the week, and insists he’s heading to Indianapolis.

We jumped the gun by reporting the trade was imminent, but Randolph still tells the source that he’s headed to the Pacers… eventually.

Again, Randolph practiced with the team today, so it seems highly unlikely that anything is actually in place yet. But it is what he’s been telling friends.”

For the better part of this season, NBA analysts have speculated about whether Carmelo Anthony would be traded or leave Denver via free agency at the end of the season, and about where he might land.  Despite Anthony’s public comments about his desire to play for the Knicks, it was the New Jersey Nets who seemed to be the leading contender to land Anthony via trade.  That is, until last night’s announcement. (more…)

As we await for the Knicks beat writers to get on this non-story, Mike Wells, Pacers beat writer at the Indianapolis Star says not so fast:

(more…)

Via Business Insider:

A source with direct knowledge of Randolph’s situation now tells us that the Knicks have agreed to a deal that will send Randolph to the Indiana Pacers

We called the Knicks for comment and a spokesperson said, “There’s nothing to report.”…. (more…)

In what is a very interesting and quirky rule, explained well by Ari Schwartzbard (@original_ARI on Twitter) via Knicks FanBlog and Knicks Vision, the Knicks can indeed trade their 2011 and 2013 (in a potential Carmelo Anthony deal) if they acquire a 2012 pick, which Walsh seems confident he can do. (more…)