After all that has happened with murals and billboards, television commercials and pointed comments, it is fitting that it comes down to the Nets and the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony.

As I heard Evan Roberts say on WFAN this morning, it’s Jay-Z and JD (James Dolan). It’s more than that, though.

It’s Mikhail Prokhorov, Jay-Z, Billy King and Brett Yormark versus Dolan. (Advantage Nets)

It’s Newark/Brooklyn versus New York City (Advantage Knicks)

It’s Brook Lopez versus Amar’e Stoudemire (Advantage Knicks)

It’s a more controlled offense and a commitment to defense versus a free-wheeling, fast-paced, score-at-will offense and defend every few possessions. (Advantage Knicks)

When you lay it out like that, it seems the Knicks will win the Anthony sweepstakes. All along, it’s been the Knicks who Anthony wants to play with, which is why with less than a week to go before the trade deadline the Melo-Drama isn’t over yet.

But it will be soon; very soon.

By the end of All-Star Weekend or on President’s Day everyone should know where Anthony is going. Barring the Lakers, Bulls or Mavericks swooping in at the last minute, it’s going to be the Nets or Knicks.

The Nuggets want to deal with the Nets. There is no question they would rather do the trade that already has been agreed upon that would bring Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Melvin Ely and Renaldo Balkman to New Jersey for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-round picks. 

But if Anthony is pushing for the Knicks – which everyone believes he is – the Nuggets have to try and reach an agreement with New York.

Dolan reportedly met with Anthony on Thursday night in Los Angeles, and executives from the Knicks and Nuggets held a conference call yesterday. Neither, especially the meeting, should have happened until the Nets’ matter was settled.

If the Nets and Nuggets have an agreement in place – and they do – Denver should have granted only New Jersey officials an audience with Anthony to see if he would be willing to sign a three-year, $65 million extension. If he said no, then you move on to the Knicks.

But all of this is also fitting because of how bizarre these trade discussions and this trade has been.

The Nets, with their heavy hitters, may have to hope they get the chance to meet with Anthony today before it’s too late and something gets done with the Knicks.

Reportedly, the Knicks have upped their offer for Anthony to include Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry’s expiring contract and a yet- trade has to-be-acquired first-round pick. The Nuggets still want more from the Knicks, maybe Timofey Mozgov or Landry Fields or more picks that they don't have

When you give up a star, a franchise player like Anthony, you want to acquire as many assets as possible. That’s what the Nets are giving up in the form of those picks, and if you think about it they’re really giving Denver five No. 1s because Favors is a 19-year-old rookie.

That’s where the Nets have another advantage. Plus they’re willing to take back more. Balkman’s contract isn’t expiring. As of now he’s not going to the Knicks. 

This is why the Nuggets have wanted to deal with the Nets from the beginning, and have been from the beginning. They always had more to offer and always were willing to do more. If Dolan is willing to give up everything but Stoudemire, the Nuggets may have no choice but to deal with the Knicks.

Now here we are, less than a week before the trade deadline, but probably another day or two before knowing where Anthony will end up. It’s safe to say it’s the metropolitan area but the way everything has gone to this point don’t be surprised if the unexpected happens. You can't rule out the Nets.

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Follow me on Twitter: @Al_Iannazzone

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