According to one report, the Nets are not willing to include Brook Lopez in an attempt to trade for Carmelo Anthony. But New Jersey's offer of Devin Harris, Derek Favors and draft picks may still give the Nuggets the best pieces in return for Anthony.

No mention is made of whether Anthony would agree to sign an extension with the Nets or the other interested teams as part of a trade out of Denver. Anthony's long-term commitment figures to be a prerequisite before teams offer the Nuggets quality assets in a deal.

The Nuggets have had discussions with the Bulls that center around Luol Deng and Taj Gibson.

The Warriors may offer Stephen Curry, Andris Biedrins and draft picks but are not sure that they will make Curry available.

The Clippers are called a long shot with Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon the likely two targets whom Denver would look to acquire.

As the ill will between Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets grows, apparently even the superstar's spouse is caught in the crossfire.

According to a report in the Denver Post, members of the Nuggets' management privately resent the influence of Anthony's wife, LaLa Vasquez, who is in the entertainment industry.  When Anthony switched his representation to CAA, Vasquez also signed with the agency, which is now pushing for Anthony's departure from Denver.

The Nuggets may just recently have come to the decision to trade Anthony but the team has been exploring the possibility of dealing him since June.

Thursday's Yahoo! Sports report mentions the Nets and Clippers as two teams with the most value to send back to Denver in a trade for Anthony.  But the quality of any package of talent and picks that the Nuggets are able to receive in return for Anthony will be directly dependent on whether Anthony is willing to sign an extension with the team to which he would be traded.

It is unlikely that the Nets or Clippers, or any potential destination, will offer their best assets to Denver unless Anthony is willing to extend his contract simultaneously with the completion of a trade.  No team would be eager to give up valuable pieces for what could end up being a one-year rental of Anthony.

And in turn, Anthony's willingness to commit to any team long term could be heavily influenced by which players that team would trade away for him and how much talent remains on the roster he would be joining.

"While it's nice to dream of the Nuggets acquiring a young player such as New Jersey center Brook Lopez or Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin in a package deal," writes Mark Kiszla, "squabbling between Anthony and team management only figures to drive down any bargaining power Denver might have in trade negotiations. An amicable separation would likely benefit the Nuggets far more than an ugly divorce."

Denver owner Stan Kroenke is reportedly firing back threats to Anthony's representatives and seems willing to play hardball rather than let a player under contract dictate terms.  But in the end, Anthony's power to sign or not sign an extension with Denver's trade partner ensures that the team's management and Anthony will need to work together to come to a resolution on the superstar's future.

According to Yahoo! Sports, the Nuggets look ready to part ways with Carmelo Anthony who has made it clear he wants out of Denver.

Anthony's camp has advised the Nuggets to deal the superstar forward since he plans to leave as a free agent next summer.

The relationship has become contentious, with Anthony's representatives making heavy-handed demands and Stan Kroenke responding in kind.

"It's almost a given they're going to move him," said a team executive who has talked with both the Nuggets and Anthony?s agents.

The Nets and Clippers have trade assets that most appeal to Denver's management, according to the report.  No mention is made of whether Anthony has agreed to sign an extension with those clubs.

Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post writes that the Clippers may be a surprise suitor for Carmelo Anthony should the Nuggets put him on the block.

A move to Los Angeles would get Anthony and his wife, La La, to a place where entertainment options are numerous.

Denver might also be able to acquire some good, young talent in return for Anthony, while he'd play for an up-and-coming team.

The Clippers have added three assistant coaches to Vinny Del Negro's staff.

Dean Demopoulos, Marc Iavaroni and Robert Pack will coach under Del Negro in his first season in Los Angeles.

In addition, Dave Severns was hired as director of player development on Thursday.

The Clippers and former coach/general manager Mike Dunleavy are accusing each other of fraud in court filings before an arbitration hearing over whether Dunleavy is still owed money by the team.

Dunleavy resigned as coach in February after seven years and was fired as general manager in March.

When he was fired as general manager, Dunleavy was in the fourth year of a five-year, $22 million contract.

In June, Dunleavy filed an arbitration claim under the provisions of his contract after the team stopped paying him.

Owner Donald Sterling and the Clippers claim that they were duped into signing the agreement, saying that Dunleavy never intended to fulfill his end of the deal and only wanted increased compensation.

Clippers forward Craig Smith has undergone arthroscopic right knee surgery.

The team announced Tuesday that he will be sidelined four to six weeks.

Los Angeles re-signed him as a free agent last month.

The legal battle between the Clippers and former head coach/general manager Mike Dunleavy continues.

Los Angeles owner Donald Sterling wants to stop Dunleavy from arbitrating his claim that the team still owes him $6.75 million of a five-year, $22 million contract.

"After seven years with the team, Dunleavy resigned as head coach this February and was fired a month later from his position as general manager," Courthouse News wrote.

"In June he filed an arbitration claim against the NBA team and owner Donald Sterling, claiming he had been fraudulently induced into signing the employment contract."