Amar’e Stoudemire wanted to let Carmelo Anthony know New York was big enough for both of them and that New Jersey is not the place for him.
Amid reports that Stoudemire was concerned Anthony would steal his Big Apple spotlight, he recently sent a text message to the Nuggets superstar to assure him that was not the case, according to Yahoo! Sports.
The report states Stoudemire wanted to “make sure Anthony knows that Stoudemire himself wants Anthony at his side, and push Anthony to resist a proposed trade to the New Jersey Nets. Stoudemire is sensitive to public suggestions that he would prefer to play without a Madison Square Garden co-star and has repeatedly expressed that to Anthony.”
It seems Anthony doesn’t need to be convinced to avoid the Nets.
ESPN.com reports, “According to several league sources, Anthony has not told anyone, not even his representatives, that he will sign a contract extension with the Nets.”
“He has not agreed to go to New Jersey,” a source who reportedly speaks regularly with Anthony told the website. “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.”
Anthony seemed headed to New Jersey at the start of the week with a 15-player, deal involving the Nets, Nuggets and Pistons nearing completion. But talks have stalled, threats have been made, and it no longer appears a deal is imminent that would send Anthony to Newark on the way to Brooklyn.
Most still believe the Knicks are Anthony’s preferred destination, but as of now the Nuggets are not interested in what team president Donnie Walsh has to offer. The Post reported that Walsh cannot even get the Nuggets to provide a list of preferred players.
With the Knicks playing solid basketball right now, Anthony questioned whether or not the team would want him.
“I don’t think they’re looking at me,” Anthony told Denver reporters. “I don’t think they want me to come in and mess what they have up.”