2. Sources: Anthony Slowing Trade
ESPN.com
In the end, the biggest holdup in a trade that would send Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets may be Anthony himself.
According to several league sources, Anthony has not told anyone, not even his representatives, that he will sign a contract extension with the Nets.
One source who has spoken with Anthony since trade talks between Denver, New Jersey and Detroit became public last weekend said the Nuggets forward has never even hinted at signing with New Jersey.
"He has not agreed to go to New Jersey," said the source, who speaks regularly with Anthony. "I have never heard him, in all the times we've talked, say he's willing to go to New Jersey. Not once. Personally, I would be stunned if he went there and signed an extension."
This, of course, does not mean there's no chance of Anthony signing with the Nets. But it does mean the three teams involved in the potential deal that could involve as many as 15 players are working on nothing more than a hunch. For even if they do reach an agreement, Anthony's refusal to sign a three-year, $65 million extension with the Nets would kill the deal completely. New Jersey has been steadfast in its commitment to trade for Anthony only if he agrees to stay with the franchise long term.
4. Blazers' Batum Key To Melo Deal?
ESPN.com
A key potential piece of the Carmelo Anthony trade puzzle was in action Tuesday, and we're not talking about anybody who played for the Denver Nuggets or the New York Knicks (or, for that matter, the New Jersey Nets, who did not be play).
That player is Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum, who has been on the periphery of the Melo Drama reports for weeks -- and for good reason: Sources say he is one of the main players the Denver Nuggets want to ultimately land if/when they finally decide what they are going to do with Anthony.
The Nuggets are by no means the only NBA team with interest in Batum, a 22-year-old small forward from France averaging 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. But the Nuggets could have the means to acquire him if their talks with the New Jersey Nets ever come to fruition, because the Trail Blazers would only consider trading Batum if they were getting back a comparable player plus a likely lottery pick, and the Nets have offered their own No. 1 pick (along with different combinations of No.1 picks owed to them in 2011 and 2012 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors) in their efforts to acquire Anthony from Denver.
So if the Nuggets acquired the rights to an unprotected Nets' pick, the Blazers would be willing to listen to whatever else Denver would add to a potential trade for Batum.
5. Extreme Behavior
ESPN.com
TUESDAY'S BEST
Arron Afflalo, Nuggets: At least one of their trades worked out. Afflalo, picked up from Detroit two summers ago, scored a career-high 31 points to go along with nine rebounds to help Denver rise above its Melo Drama and snap a three-game skid.
TUESDAY'S WORST
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs scored just 57 points -- total -- and were two points shy of being doubled up by the champs in L.A. No Cleveland starter scored more than eight points, and starting guard Manny Harris finished with a minus-57 plus/minus. Yeesh ...
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Crazy. Karma is a b****.. Gets you every time. Its not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!
LeBron James
KingJames
-- LeBron James, during the final minutes of the Cavaliers' 112-57 loss to the Lakers
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"This is not my last game. I'll be here playing against Miami Thursday.''
-- Carmelo Anthony, after the Nuggets routed the Suns 132-98 in Denver.
7. Waiting Is The Smartest Part
ESPNBoston.com
WALTHAM, Mass. -- On his blog Friday, Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett wrote that after having his leg looked at, he was "real close to getting back."
He's still real close.
The Celtics host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, weather permitting. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday after practice that Garnett, who hasn't played in two weeks because of a strained calf, probably would not play. But Rivers wouldn't rule out a return totally.
"I don't think he's ready yet," Rivers said. "He could play. I don't think he will. There's a chance."
But he probably won't, and frankly, I hope he doesn't. I'm with Rivers on this one. I don't want to see KG back on the floor until he is completely healthy.
I don't care what the Miami Heat are doing (and neither, says Rivers, does he). I don't care what the Orlando Magic are doing (and neither, says Rivers, does he, although he reminded everyone that he does live in Orlando during the offseason). I don't want to see Garnett back on the floor until he is 100 percent ready.
8. Ball Control
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea/US Presswire)
9. While You Were Waiting
ESPN.com
All the talk about rebuilding and trading Marcus Camby and Andre Miller has overshadowed the fact that the Portland Trail Blazers are playing some darned good basketball right now. Portland's near upset of the Miami Heat on Sunday night was no fluke. While Brandon Roy rests his knees and weighs surgical options, the Blazers have gone 10-6 without him, including road wins against the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies.
In fact, only three Western Conference teams in Tuesday's Power Rankings bettered Portland's -- the san Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Although the Blazers are just 20-18, they've played 22 of their 38 games on the road and will have the aid of a fearsome home-court advantage 25 times from now until the end of the season. As a result, the Blazers project to win 46 games and grab the No. 6 seed in the West. Today's playoff odds give them an 83.3 percent chance of making the playoffs, and, again, those odds improve if Carmelo Anthony heads East.
• Read the rest of Hollinger's PER Diem. 
10. 
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