Carmelo Anthony is apparently willing to sign an extension if traded from Denver to the Nets as long as they acquire roster additions that increase competitiveness and according to various sources every player on New Jersey’s roster is available except Brook Lopez.

My hopes of the Carmelo Anthony drama-fest concluding before Christmas look to be slim and according to reports the Nuggets are content to wait until mid-January before ultimately deciding.

Carmelo’s situation is just one of the trade-rumor headlines floating around this afternoon. I’ll touch on a couple of others I’ve found below.

They include:

  • The Nets continue to work hard to put together a package that will satisfy Carmelo

  • Denver wants to see how they perform with everyone available before making a final decision on Anthony

  • Is there a mystery team involved in Carmelo trade talks?

  • The 76ers continue to deny shopping Andre Iguodala

  • Steve Nash isn’t planning to force a trade despite roster turnover

  • Pistons stalwart Richard Hamilton is upset at benching

As usual, to view the entire column from the original source, please click on the bold header that the beginning of each excerpt.

Anthony is inclined to accept a trade and contract extension with New Jersey over his preferred choice of New York only if the Nets are able to bring back a package of significant talent with him, league sources involved in the talks said on Monday.

So far, there are trade scenarios that include a combination of Anthony’s Denver teammates – including forward Al Harrington – and other league players coming to the Nets.

“The way this is structured now, the Nets will significantly upgrade their team,” said one NBA executive involved in the talks.

Said a Western Conference executive whose team has pursued Anthony: “ ’Melo wants something similar to the Orlando deal, where he won’t have to go into New Jersey – or anywhere he’s going – without some help right away.”

Denver’s and New Jersey’s trade partners are still unclear, but league executives said the Nets and Nuggets are tweaking several possible proposals with multiple teams. For now, New Jersey general manager Billy King is preparing to send rookie forward Derrick Favors, the expiring contract of Troy Murphy, two or three future first-round draft picks and $3 million to Denver for minimally Anthony and Harrington. More Nuggets and Nets would likely be on the move, too.

Center Brook Lopez is the only Nets player not involved in any of the proposals, sources said.

Don’t expect any team to get a Christmas wish and find Carmelo Anthony under its tree. That’s because the Denver Nuggets are entering the next phase in their last-ditch effort to try to keep Anthony.

  • The Nuggets are close to having their full roster intact for the first time this season. And a source said Monday night that Denver has no desire to trade Anthony until it can be seen how the team looks with a full cast.*

  • Forward Kenyon Martin, who has yet to play this season following offseason knee surgery, could return as soon as Wednesday at San Antonio or Saturday at Oklahoma City. And both guard Chauncey Billups, who has been out the past three games with a wrist injury, and center Chris Andersen, out since Dec. 3 with a back injury, are expected back for the San Antonio game.*

  • The Nuggets are 16-10 despite those injuries this season. Before team officials pull any trigger and deal Anthony, they want to see what his mindset would be and how the Nuggets will look when they have a full cast.*

*The Nets and Knicks are the two teams at the forefront of the Melodrama. They’ve been the ones most active and the most involved. But there could be a mystery team that’s quietly trying to also swing a deal for Carmelo Anthony too. *

  • When all this stuff first started up, teams that started rolling off rumor mongerer’s tongues were the Nets, Knicks, Clippers, Bulls, Magic and even the Rockets. The Magic appear to be out of the Anthony sweepstakes based of their recent moves that sent a number of assets west to Phoenix. The Clippers don’t appear willing to deal any of their core young pieces. The Bulls seem content with their current unit.*

  • So by a process of elimination, the obvious team left would be the Rockets. General manager Daryl Morey has talked publicly in the past about wanting to add a star player to the roster to build around. And I’m pretty sure Kevin Martin isn’t that guy. Morey is a firm believer in having a go-to star and then corresponding pieces around that player. Right now, Houston is missing that, especially with it appearing that Yao Ming’s Houston career is over.*

Team president Rod Thorn denied a published report, citing unnamed sources, claiming the Sixers are “attempting to trade” swingman Andre Iguodala.

In an email response Sunday, Thorn said the Sixers are “trying to ascertain the value of all of our players. Big difference.”

The Morning Journal (Ohio) claimed the Sixers are looking to move the 26-year-old Iguodala, who has four years and $56 million left on his contract (counting this season).

A source in the report said the Sixers and Cavaliers haven’t had any “active dialogue,” but to “keep an eye on” Cleveland because it lacks a No. 1 player since LeBron James left for Miami. The Cavs own a $14.5 million trade exception they acquired for James that could appeal to some teams.

Iguodala, a seventh-year pro, is averaging 14 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the 6-13 Sixers, who have a glut of wing players.

Nash said the trade was an indication that management was being critical of its own summer moves. Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby was clear Nash is part of the future and all indications are that Nash is in Phoenix to stay.

“I signed the contract extension to stay,” Nash said. “I did that for a reason. I wanted to play with these guys, some of them. At least some of them were here when I signed. I still think we have a chance to be a good team. You just got to roll with it. What are my options? Quit?”

A two-time MVP could demand a trade.

“I could be in a city that maybe doesn’t have the guys we have,” Nash said. “I want to be positive and make this a great opportunity and a great season. I know a lot of people are telling me to demand a trade. If I demand one, does that mean I get to pick my team? No. It’s not that simple. Maybe somebody could explain to me the reasoning. You can’t just go in and tell management where you want to go. I signed to play here and I want to make this team a really good one.”** **

Guard Richard Hamilton, a mainstay during the Pistons’ run of six consecutive conference finals appearances, is upset with his role on the team and has become a distraction, team sources said.

“He quit on us,” one team source said. Another team source said Hamilton is acting out of emotion and should adjust.

Hamilton’s been on the trading block for two years, and he would like a change of scenery.

Team president Joe Dumars has said he is having trouble making deals because the team is for sale, but if Hamilton doesn’t take coming off the bench well, the situation could become untenable. With the recent trades around the league, it shows the market is opening up.

*“If I need to have a long talk with him, I will,” Dumars said Monday on WDFN. “I’ll see how Rip is doing tomorrow when he gets in here. Rip’s been good for me. *

See you all tomorrow for more news!