The updates have been streaming throughout the interwebz today, so I'll just plop them all here and you can let it all sink in. Take it for what it's worth.
Let's start where it all began, The Record:
In the proposed three-team trade, first reported by The Record on Friday, the main players the Nets would get in return are Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups from Denver and Detroit shooting guard Richard Hamilton.
The Nets would send Devin Harris, rookie power forward Derrick Favors, Anthony Morrow, Stephen Graham, Ben Uzoh and at least two first-round picks to Denver and Troy Murphy, Johan Petro and Quinton Ross to Detroit. The Nets also would receive big man Sheldon Williams from Denver and guard Terrico White from Detroit. Additional players would change teams to make the salaries match.
Due to the size of the deal, which would be the biggest in NBA history, it could be difficult to come together. But one league source said the sides were in "serious discussions," while another said talks "are progressing," and it’s possible something could happen with Anthony this week.
Snip.
A source said there have been some counteroffers made in the possible three-team trade with Denver Detroit [sic]. It’s believed the Nuggets are seeking more draft picks.
The Pistons are interested because they’re about to be sold and want to cut salary. Hamilton is due $25 million over the next two seasons. Murphy’s contract is expiring and Petro makes $6.75 million over the next two seasons.
The Record ignores other sources that say Billups has zero interest in becoming a Net, but I guess he has no choice in the matter and the Nets could always cross that bridge after the fact.
Let's also hope that's a typo in the first paragraph of the second snippet and Detroit is not considering giving up more draft picks to the Nuggets. Actually, I hope they're not considering giving up any draft picks.
Chris Iott has, now, twice directly refuted parts of The Record's reports:
Source says Terrico White, Quinton Ross NOT currently involved in trade talks involving Pistons, Nets and Nuggets. #Pistons #Nets #NBA
Those names -- White and Ross -- included in Bergen Record story regarding possible trade...
Vince Ellis also says none of the Pistons young core are part of the discussions and adds that the ultimate goal for the Pistons is Murphy and his expiring deal for Richard Hamilton (which, to me, sounds way too good to be true).*
Starting around 4 p.m. EST, Chris Broussard started to dump his source's information on his Twitter feed about the matter (in succession):
Sources say NJ-Den-Det talks "further along" than any of other recent 3-team scenarios (Cavs, Twolves, Blazers) were.
NJ wanting Det 1st round pick was deal-breaker, so NJ has backed off that. NJ now wants to send TMurphy & JPetro to Det for Rip.Detroit doesn't want Petro, so NJ currently trying to find landing spot for Petro. Detroit may eventually relent but rt now doesn't want JP
Detroit's motivation is big $ savings - $25 million w/ out Petro , just $17 mill with him.
No guarantee Melo will sign off on deal. He's mum about that. NJ likes chances though.
Broussard got the LeBron to Miami scoop, so he must be right here. This actually corroborates most of what we've heard from the Pistons beat writers. For what it's worth, NBA's insider Chad Ford regurgitated to his followers everything Broussard tweeted and said he was hearing the same.
Remember that asterisk from up above? Well, prepare to rub your eyes in disbelief, because Yahoo's master of the scoop Adrian Wojnarowski says the Nets are no longer asking for a 1st round pick, are looking to unload Petro elsewhere and the Pistons have LEVERAGE:
Detroit has leverage here, because Melo's agent is pushing Rip inclusion in bigger deal to NJ. Detroit may end up with a 1st out of deal.
He goes on:
Would Melo's agent work so hard to get Rip in deal, only have to client refuse $65M contract in NJ? Melo does waffle, but seems unlikely.
There's momentum toward getting a deal done, because Denver's ready. "They're getting a lot of pressure from Melo's people," executive says.
And, as I'm writing this, it's really picking up steam (via the original source):
One source said "tonight or tomorrow." Some things still need to be worked out, but it's picking up steam.
There could be a party up in hurrr soon.