National Basketball Association

Denver outlets cut prices on 'Melo gear

Published Jan. 16, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Carmelo Anthony jerseys were on sale for half price in Denver on Sunday with national media outlets suggesting a deal is close to being done — and sources maintain that a trade between the Nets, Nuggets and Pistons could happen this week.

But coach Avery Johnson splashed a little cold water on the torrid of rumors when he said the Nets team at practice on Sunday will be the one competing Wednesday and Friday in Newark.

Johnson described the entire situation as laughable.

“We deal with this kind of stuff every day ... The team that you see right now, you’ll see this team in uniform Wednesday," he said.

"You see this team [pointing at players], you’ll see them Wednesday night. ... You’ll see the same team Friday night.”

The proposed deal would send Anthony, Nuggets teammate Chauncey Billups and the Pistons’ Rip Hamilton to the Nets, with the Nets poised to send Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, two draft picks to Denver and Troy Murphy and Johan Petro to Detroit.

The Nets have been pursuing Anthony since September with different deals nearly done before each broke down.

The Nets play the Jazz on Wednesday and Hamilton’s Pistons on Friday.