Slam Dunk Central

“ESPN The Magazine” NBA beat writer Chris Broussard reported Sunday night that the Denver Nuggets have told the agent for All-Star Carmelo Anthony’s agent that the team will not trade him this Summer. ?Anthony’s agent in a phone interview with Broussard said “He’s not going to be moved. It’s not happening. We’ve been given assurances from the owner on down.”

Reports surfaced earlier that their was a scheduled meeting for Monday between Nuggets officials and representatives for ‘Melo to discuss the trade rumors that have circulated in the last few days. There had been rampant speculation that Anthony may be sent to the Detroit Pistons, the team that had bypassed him with the second pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

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While it is common knowledge that the Denver Nuggets are in trade talks with the Detroit Pistons, a Pistons source has told the Detroit Free Press that any trade that goes down will not involve forward Carmelo Anthony.? Any trade that happens between these two teams have these goals in mind: for Denver, it will hopefully bring Chauncey Billups back to his home state; the Pistons, on the other hand, want to correct their messed-up 2003 draft and pry Anthony from the Nuggets.

To add to this trade scenario, ESPN.com reports that the Pistons have offered Tayshaun Prince and Billups to Denver for Anthony; the Nuggets have countered with an offer of Allen Iverson or a package featuring Marcus Camby.? But the Pistons are only interested in Anthony at this point.? Whether anything comes to fruition is purely speculative at this point; stay tuned to Slam Dunk Central for future developments.

“ESPN The Magazine” reporter Chris Broussard reported Saturday that represenatives for Denver Nuggets All-Star Carmelo Anthony will meet with team management on Monday. The report states that Anthony’s reps asked for the meeting to talk about ongoing trade rumors concerning the player who just completed his fifth season in the Association. Earlier this month there were reports of a possible deal that would end Anthony to the Detroit Pistons. Anthony’s agent could not be reached to comment on the story.

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The “Los Angeles Times” reported that Lakers guard Kobe Bryant like things they are with his team, a sharp contrast to a year ago. Last year after the NBA Finals Bryant called Stephen A. Smith of “ESPN Radio“, and said he wanted out of L.A. This year after losing to the Boston Celtics in six games in the NBA Finals, the MVP of the Association this season says he likes what he sees around him. Bryant told reporters “I’m comfortable with what we have. Whatever Mitch decides to do, he decides to do.” Bryant was referring to Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchack.

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ESPN.com has reported that the NBA has increased the figure that the Association says it is owed by former NBA referee Tim Donaghy. The report states that the Association is asking the courts to award them $1,395,104.89 in restitution. The NBA had originally asked for one million dollars from Donaghy to pay for the investigation that the Association conducted after Donaghy was charged with betting on games and disseminating information to his associates.??Perhaps the NBA is calling the extra money a “spin-control fee“as NBA Commissioner addressed the media twice in the last week on allegations that the former referee’s attorney have released. Donaghy’s attorney has submitted documents?stating that?game six in 2002 NBA?Playoffs between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers was decided by the game’s officials in favor of the Lakers.?Sacramento led the series 3-2 and would have advanced had they won, the Lakers won the series and ultimately the 2002 NBA Title. Stern said the charges were bogus, and stated because Donaghy has been indicted on the gambling charges he is not a reliable source.

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The Denver Nuggets managed to keep an important piece of their squad as according to ESPN.com, guard Allen Iverson will not opt out of his last year of his contract with the team; this information was verified by his agent Leon Rose.? Iverson’s contract gave him the option of opting out of his deal in the final year, but he chose to remain in Denver to help them reach the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season while Iverson has been there.? Iverson ranked third on the NBA in scoring last season, averaging 26.4 PPG.

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New York Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced Friday that two assistant coaches - Phil Weber and Dan D’Antoni -?have been hired?and Herb Williams has been retained as an assistant coach.? Weber joins the Knicks after 9 seasons as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns, including 4 1/2 seasons with D’Antoni; Dan D’Antoni spent the last 3 seasons with his brother as an assistant with the Suns; prior to that stint, he had a 30-year career as a high school basketball coach in South Carolina.? Williams is in his eighth season with the Knicks as an assistant coach, following an 18-year NBA career.

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The Don Nelson-Mark Cuban conflict was supposed to be about money owed to Nelson.? It still is, but apparently it has gone to another level as according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, Nelson on Wednesday said that it was a shame that the owner of the Dallas Mavericks views the Olympics as a financial proposition.? Nelson added, “I couldn’t disagree more.? It’s not about the money.? There is pride in these athletes.? He ought to have more respect for his country.? Everybody in the NBA makes plenty of money.? It’s not too much to ask that every four years you give something back to your country.”

Prior to Nelson’s comments, Cuban told the Morning News on Wednesday, “It’s not that I don’t like the idea of them representing their countries.? What I don’t like is that we lie to ourselves and pretend that Olympians represent our country.? They don’t.? It’s about money.”? First things first.? Cuban, the last time I checked, never suited up as a NBA player.? And as such, he has no idea why NBA players choose to play in the Olympics.? While yes, the Olympics do make money (what successful not-for-profit entity doesn’t?), it runs deeper than the financial bottom line.

Perhaps Cuban’s shortsightedness will not allow him to realize that believe it or not, patriotism does exist in the Olympics.? And who is to say that Cuban has a hidden agenda with his remarks?? Things such as Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd possibly getting hurt during the Games come to mind.? Cuban isn’t stupid by any stretch of the imagination - he simply wants to protect his investments (Kidd and Nowitzki).? So it is entirely possible that Cuban’s comments have more meaning than what is originally assumed.? All of this aside, I wonder if Nelson would have said anything if the Mavericks had paid him the money due him while he was the Mavericks coach.? Nelson says that isn’t the case, but I’m not entirely convinced.? This should get interesting between now and the start of the Games, so stay tuned.

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Juan Carlos Navarro is set to become a wealthy man, but there’s a twist to the story.? According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Navarro, once a member of the Memphis Grizzlies as a rookie for the 2007-2008 season, has signed a long-term deal with FC Barcelona.? Navarro, who made $538,000 as a rookie, is expected to sign a deal that’s 4 years in length and worth between $20-24 million.? He appeared in all 82 games for Memphis, averaging 10.9 PPG in his only season in the NBA.

One less point guard will be considered for the United States Olympic basketball team as according to ESPN, Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups - due to family issues - will not be a part of the team that will participate in the Olympics in Beijing this summer.? Specifically, Billups informed USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo on Tuesday.? Billups clarified his decision as he told ESPN, “It’s a matter of what you want to do and what you need to do.? Winning a gold medal is the one thing that I haven’t accomplished, and I was looking forward to standing up on that big stage.? That’s what I really wanted.? But I was taught family comes first, above anything else.”

Billups and fellow Pistons teammate Tayshaun Prince were being considered for the Olympic team, which will be announced on Monday.? Billups had stiff competition getting a roster spot at point guard, including Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Deron Williams.? Billups added that his family situation would either distract him in Beijing or force him to return to the States early; he further added that he was confident that he would’ve made the team but didn’t want to take up a roster spot if he couldn’t be fully committed.? While all of that may in fact be true, something tells me that the aforementioned 3 point guards (Kidd, Paul and Williams) would’ve made the Olympic squad and they wouldn’t carry 4 point guards.