Carmelo-drama could come to a head this weekend

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The long-simmering saga  surrounding the future of Denver Nuggets scoring machine  Carmelo Anthony may come to a head this weekend and climax what  has come to be known as the NBA’s Melo-drama.

The cliffhanger of whether Anthony will be dealt to the  Knicks, Nets, Lakers or some other club by the Feb 24 trade  deadline, remain in Denver or become a free agent could have a  critical chapter during the All-Star break in Los Angeles.

New York’s Daily News reported yesterday that both Knicks  owner James Dolan and the Nets’ Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov  were scheduled to meet with Anthony in Los Angeles.

Carmelo Anthony

The 26-year-old Anthony, a 6-8 (2.03M) forward and  four-time All Star who is averaging 25.2 points this season,  has been offered a three-year, $65 million extension by the  Nuggets but has made no secret of a desire to play in New  York.

“Who wouldn’t want to play in New York?” Anthony said last  month as rumoured trade offers and demands heated up.

“That’s like the ultimate dream at the end of the day,”  added Anthony, who was born in Brooklyn. “Who wouldn’t want to  go back home to play?”

Anthony grew up on the East Coast in Baltimore and led New  York state’s Syracuse University to the U.S. college title as a  freshman before becoming the third pick of the 2003 NBA Draft.

WEDDING TOAST

The Melo-drama began with a wedding toast made by All-Star  point guard Chris Paul at Anthony’s nuptials in New York last  summer, a couple of days after LeBron James announced he was  signing with the Heat to form a superstar troika in Miami with  Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Paul spoke of a potential on-court partnership with Anthony  and fellow wedding party attendee Amar’e Stoudemire, who had  just signed as a free agent with the Knicks.

“We’ll form our own Big Three,” Paul was later quoted as  saying by a guest at the party that included also included  James. Paul can become a free agent after next season.