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Dirk Nowitzki says Carmelo Anthony joining Mavs is unrealistic

Mike Stone / Reuters

While the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls have been considered the frontrunners outside of New York to land Carmelo Anthony, it was expected that the Dallas Mavericks, always in the running for big names, would at least be able to get in a room and pitch the gifted scorer.

That was something Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki seemed quite happy about last week, but he poured some cold water on the idea on Friday.

As Nowitzki told ESPN Dallas when asked if he could see Anthony in Mavericks' white:

Not really. Somebody in his camp brought up the Mavericks first. It's not like we brought him up. If we're actually on his radar then it's great. Then, we obviously have to look at it. Like I've said, he's obviously one of the most explosive scorers that we have in this league. If a player like that has your team on the radar, [president of basketball operations] Donnie [Nelson] and [owner] Mark [Cuban] obviously have to look at it. Do I think it's realistic? No. You've got to explore all of your options.

In short, it would be great, but it's not very likely.

Anthony could command a salary that begins at an estimated $22.5 million, a figure Dallas would have room for under the salary cap at present, but perhaps not once Nowitzki signs his new deal.

The Rockets, Bulls and Knicks remain the key players in Anthony rumors, though the Rockets may first take aim at LeBron James and double back to Anthony if that doesn't work out, a strategy that may not sit well with the Syracuse product.

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