Associated Press
The NBA notebook …
MIAMI ó Dwyane Wade can relate to Carmelo Anthonyís melo-drama.
Wade said Tuesday that he hopes Anthony ó his good friend ó has his future with the Denver Nuggets resolved soon. Wade spent most of last season dogged by constant where-are-you-going talk regarding his then-looming free agency, and completely understands what sort of toll that can take on someone.
Anthony has been the subject of trade rumors for months, especially in recent weeks as deals reportedly involving the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks have been discussed.
ěHe seems like now heís getting to the point where heís fed up with it, heís tired of hearing about it, he just wants to focus on basketball,î Wade said. ěItís not really bothering him as much as it was at certain points although no matter what kind of game he has, people are going to say something if he doesnít score 30.î
THE TRADE SNAG
NEWARK, N.J. ó A person with knowledge of the proposed Carmelo Anthony trade says the holdup is over the framework of the deal, not the All-Star forward’s willingness to commit to New Jersey.
Though they appeared close to a deal 11 days ago, the teams are still negotiating what the Nets would send to Denver.
New Jersey has offered to ship six players and at least two first-round draft picks to Denver in the deal that would send Anthony to the Nets along with former Pistons teammates Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.
But the teams haven’t been able to agree on the exact price that will persuade the Nuggets to finally part with their franchise player
The person added that the Nets are not concerned about Anthony’s commitment to the franchise for the long term should the trade be completed, saying they are convinced the 26-year-old will sign a $65 million, three-year contract extension if New Jersey, Denver and Detroit can agree on the others parts of the deal.
The teams continued their negotiations on Tuesday, but little was happening.
KNICKS HONOR STARS
NEW YORKó Hall of Famers Earl Monroe and Harry Gallatin are among the former Knicks who will be honored with “Knicks Legends Awards” next month.
The Knicks will honor one player for each decade from the 1950s to 2000s at halftime of their game against Milwaukee on Feb. 23. Gallatin played for the team from 1948-57 and coached in 1965, while Monroe arrived in 1971 and helped the Knicks win the 1973 NBA championship.
Other winners voted by fans included Dick Barnett (1960s), Mark Jackson (1980s), John Starks (1990s) and Allan Houston (2000s).
The Knicks also announced Tuesday that Mike Saunders, their trainer from 1978-2005, would receive the “Dick McGuire Knickerbocker Legacy Award.”
LEBRONíS CARTOONS
MIAMI ó LeBron James is going back to cartoons.
The NBA’s two-time reigning MVP and Spring Hill Productions formally announced plans Tuesday for a 10-episode digital series to be distributed online and slated to launch early this year.
The idea for the show is based somewhat on a recent series of Nike television commercials that showed James, a forward for the Miami Heat, as several different animated characters.
In a statement, James says the show “is a great way to show youths of all ages how to be a good person.”
Episodes will be hosted on YouTube.