Carmelo Anthony says Nets meeting is ‘news to me’

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Carmelo Anthony said Friday “no meeting at all” is scheduled with the New Jersey Nets and didn’t know what he would say if one does happen.

Speaking at an NBA Cares community service event, Anthony said a reported meeting that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov was seeking with the All-Star forward was “news to me.”

“I haven’t heard it,” Anthony said.

Russian billionaire Prokhorov told team executives last month to end drawn-out trade talks for Anthony, a day before they had been scheduled to meet.

“If I was to meet with that guy, to be honest I really don’t know what I would say,” Anthony said.

The Nuggets have looked into trading Anthony since he declined to sign a three-year contract extension worth nearly $65 million this season. The Nets have been close to a deal twice, and the New York Knicks are considered the other favorite to land Anthony if Denver decides to move him by Thursday afternoon.

Prokhorov’s spokeswoman insists nothing has changed with the impending NBA trading deadline, despite multiple reports of a possible meeting and/or deal. Prokhorov cited the high price the Nuggets were seeking and his frustration with the public nature of the talks when he halted them, not because of reports that Anthony only would agree to a long-term extension with the Knicks if he were dealt.

There are also reports that Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan wants to meet with Anthony this weekend. Anthony said there was no meeting scheduled with him, either, but seems to see the value in talking with a team that’s interested in him.

“Whether it’s Prokhorov or Dolan or (Lakers owner Jerry) Buss, the third team that just came out last week, whoever it is, you would want to sit down and have eye contact with him and get a feeling for him,” Anthony said.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.