Carmelo Anthony won't be joining this summer's free-agent bonanza, but if he opts out of the last year of his contract next summer, he'll likely be the top free-agent get then. Yet, with a new collective-bargaining agreement set for next summer, one that is expected to slash salaries and guaranteed years on a deal, if Melo wants to make the most money, signing an extension with the Nuggets now would make sense. Yet, does he want to stay with the team? Or is the bigger market of New York calling next summer? Writes Ken Berger of CBS Sports: "Since Anthony is not a free agent this summer, the window for such discussions opened as soon as Denver's season ended. Mark Warkentien declined to comment on the status of negotiations ... With so much attention on this summer's free agent class loaded with some of Anthony's closest friends and teammates from the 2008 Olympic team, it's worth wondering if Anthony is ready to explore the marketplace next summer. For example, if the Knicks were to strike out in their bid to land two marquee free agents this July, they could preserve enough cap space to make a run at Anthony in 2011." The options for Melo seem to be shaking out like this: Stay in Denver for more money via an extension, or become a free agent next summer and change locations. Source: CBS Sports
