The Nets’ long road trip ends Saturday in Denver against someone they would love to add to their roster.

Anyone who says it’s just another game against Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets isn’t being completely honest.

Just like Anthony’s game against the Knicks Monday wasn’t just another game. Just like when Jason Kidd played against Dallas less than a week before he was traded to the Mavericks wasn’t just another game.

The lasting memories of that game were Kidd was in a great mood beforehand – maybe he knew something – Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and then-Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe had a lengthy conversation under the basket in full view of the media.

Sure other things came up like health, welfare and their families, but Kidd was discussed and the framework of a deal was being put in place.

It’s doubtful Nets GM Billy King and Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke or GM Masai Ujiri will engage in any real discussions publicly before the game. They are all much more discreet than Cuban. But you have to believe a conversation will be had.

The Nets, who are in Sacramento tonight, aren’t going away unless they hear they are wasting their time with Anthony. But they need to hear it from Anthony’s representatives, not someone close to Anthony in the press.

It’s been written over and over that people close to Anthony said he doesn’t want to play in Newark. An NBA player who spoke to Anthony told me he wants “the big stage” of New York.

That’s why Monday’s game against the Knicks was big. It certainly seemed like the Knicks were doing everything possible to showcase Danilo Gallinari (36 minutes, 19 shots, 21 points), Wilson Chandler (31 minutes, 16 shots, 23 points) and maybe even Landry Fields (38 minutes, 15 shots, 21 points, 17 rebounds).

Nets coach Avery Johnson is going to try and win the game, but it might not be out of the question for him to play Derrick Favors more minutes. It certainly would help the Nets all the way around if Favors had a big game.

That’s why this is not just another game. The Nuggets’ decision-makers can get a good look at Favors up close and personal, and not rely solely on a scout’s observation.

The Nets, if they continue to play as hard as they have under Johnson – and why would they stop – and guys like Devin Harris and Brook Lopez have big games it could make Anthony take notice.

King hasn’t changed his stance and won’t comment on anything regarding Anthony, including the reports that he doesn’t want to play in New Jersey. King can’t because he would be confirming that they are talking.

Most executives won’t do that. Even though we all know they are, especially since King put an artificial deadline on the original four-team deal with Denver. But that was to get his players, notably Favors and Harris, out of the newspapers and all the sports shows.

It doesn’t matter what the Nets say or what people close to Anthony say. It all comes down to Denver and Anthony.

If the Nets offer the best trade package – Favors, two No. 1 picks, expiring contracts of Troy Murphy and perhaps Kris Humphries - Denver is going to want to deal with them. But the Nets won’t do anything if they don’t get a long-term commitment from Carmelo.

If Anthony is give a choice of playing with the Nets and getting a $65 million contract extension or finishing the season in Denver and seeing less money on the open market in the summer since salaries are expected to come down in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, what does he do?

We go back and forth. In late summer/early fall, we believed Anthony would become a Net at some point. Then we weren’t as confident. But the Nets remain in the picture, we’re told, despite all the things you’re reading about what Anthony wants.

Saturday is not just another game.

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Follow me on Twitter: @Al_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)