Like a Hollywood star breathlessly accepting an Oscar, Carmelo Anthony will have many people to thank on the day that he is, at long last, traded to a new team.
His agents, for their dogged persistence.
The Denver Nuggets, for their cooperation and understanding.
The Nets (or whichever team lands him), for their commitment and show of faith.
Like any conscientious celebrity, he should also thank the bit players who made it all possible: Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow, Troy Murphy and a supporting cast of profligate team executives.
N.B.A. trades are not built on an exchange of similar talent, but similar contracts. If $20 million comes in, then about $20 million has to go out. Expendable players and bad contracts are essential.
The potential three-way trade between the Nets, the Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons could not happen without an ample supply of contract flotsam.
Petro, for example, was signed by the Nets last summer to an instantly regrettable three-year, $10 million contract. He is practically useless on the court (averaging 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds), but his $3 million salary will help the Nets acquire Richard Hamilton from Detroit.
The Nets need Hamilton, a former All-Star, to help sell Anthony on the deal. Detroit, conversely, is itching to dump Hamilton and his $12 million salary. The Pistons, regrettably, signed Hamilton to a three-year, $36 million extension in November 2008, just as they began a rapid decline.
To shed Hamilton’s semi-toxic contract, which runs through 2013, the Pistons will acquire Murphy’s, which is expensive ($12 million) but less toxic, because it expires this summer.
Murphy’s bad contract is well traveled. It began as a six-year, $58 million extension from the Golden State Warriors in November 2004. Two years later, it was traded (along with Mike Dunleavy’s bad contract) to the Indiana Pacers, for Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington.
Last August, the Pacers sent Murphy to the Nets in a four-team deal that brought Darren Collison to Indiana. To get Collison from New Orleans, the Pacers had to accept James Posey, whose contract (two years, $13.4 million remaining) the Hornets wanted to dump.
Now Murphy could be on the move again, to balance the Pistons’ end of the Anthony trade. Their motivation is purely financial, though they might acquire a draft pick as well.
Meanwhile, the Nets would gain a superstar (Anthony) and a top point guard (Chauncey Billups), while the Nuggets would gain a raft of young talent (Devin Harris, Derrick Favors) and first-round picks (probably two).
Even that cannot happen without the Nets also sending a platter of salary-cap filler to Denver, in the form of Morrow ($4 million), Quinton Ross ($1.1 million), Stephen Graham ($993,000) and Ben Uzoh ($474,000).
Of course, that widely reported deal might never happen. The Nets and the Pistons are eager to consummate it, but the Nuggets are dithering, still working to extract every concession and benefit they can before surrendering their franchise player.
One executive involved in the negotiations said Tuesday that it would be several days, at least, before this deal comes to fruition, if it does. Nuggets officials were said to be perturbed that the details had become public. There were reports that a fourth team could become involved.
And another bad contract is on the table. The Nuggets — eager to capitalize on this singular moment — want someone, anyone, to take Harrington, whom they signed to a five-year, $34 million deal last July.
Harrington’s lone talent is scoring, but he is averaging just 12.2 points and turns 31 next month. His contract was derided the moment he signed it. At the time, the Nuggets rationalized the deal as essential to shore up the bench and keep Anthony happy.
But Anthony is still unhappy and still wants out and now Harrington apparently stands in the way. Once again, a blockbuster trade is dependent upon finding a home for another bad contract.
It takes talent, strategy and millions of dollars to compete in the N.B.A. But regret is the league’s greatest currency.
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