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As the NBA’s youngest president, Kroenke understood why so many people were skeptical whether he and Ujiri could pull off a franchise- defining trade. “I made a joke to people in passing that I wasn’t born as recently as a lot of people in this business, but I wasn’t born yesterday,” Kroenke said. “I understand that I might not know the fine points of the NBA like several people in this business. But I learned a lot throughout the process. It was an education of six years in six months. But I do know basketball and did know that superstars don’t exactly grow on trees.” Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Josh Kroenke 

Just days after committing to sign with the Miami Heat, LeBron James joked at the wedding reception that Anthony and New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul needed to team up with Knicks newcomer Amar’e Stoudemire to compete. “By the end people were kind of toasting New York,” Josh Kroenke said. “It was uncomfortable. … But even with the toast I had a lot of fun. ‘Melo came over and asked my dad to say a few words and Amar’e came over and apologized.” Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Josh Kroenke 

On Aug. 22, Kroenke then met with Anthony, his agent Leon Rose and manager Robert “Bay” Frazier at a Baltimore hotel room. Anthony and his representatives told Kroenke he wanted to be traded to either the Knicks or Chicago Bulls. Talks with the Bulls never gained much momentum because Chicago didn’t want to part with center Joakim Noah. With Anthony holding sign-and-trade power – and the entire league soon knowing he wanted out of Denver – the Nuggets were thrust into a situation that Kroenke described as “ridiculously stressful.” “I was prepared,” Kroenke said. “But you’re never fully prepared when you walk into your first meeting and your franchise player wants to be traded.” Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Josh Kroenke 

Anthony was elated when Kroenke and Ujiri gave him the news. Other phone calls to Billups, a Denver native, and Carter, who lives in Denver in the offseason, were a lot tougher. “I wouldn’t say we were happy,” Kroenke said. “I would just say we were glad to have the situation behind us and just have certainty once again.” In the process, the Nuggets granted Anthony’s wish, delivering him a homecoming trade to New York. “Josh handled each and every situation head on and candidly,” Rose said. “We couldn’t have asked for anything more. I believe that the Denver Nuggets organization is in good hands with Josh and Masai and is headed in the right direction for years to come.” Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Josh Kroenke 

I have spoken with multiple people in attendance at the wedding – including Anthony, Stan and Josh Kroenke – about the toasts. Stan Kroenke clearly felt no ill will towards Paul, Stoudemire or Anthony and, by all accounts, laughed off the toast and joked about it during his own toast at the wedding. NBA.com

Denver Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony, Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke 

Though Melo ultimately was traded as he requested, Stan Kroenke still thinks highly of Anthony and would never make a rash business decision based on the words of a few friends enjoying themselves at a wedding. Besides, the decision to ultimately trade Anthony rested in Josh Kroenke’s capable hands, not those of his father. NBA.com

Denver Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony, Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke 

When I bumped into Josh (Kroene) and Masai (Ujiri) at Pepsi Center before Thursday night's game, I had invited them both to come to the party. At the time, they said they appreciated the invite but probably wouldn't be able to make it. So when they showed up, I was as surprised as anyone. After I thanked the great readers of Denver Stiffs for supporting this site and coming to the event, Josh and Masai each took the microphone and thanked Nuggets fans everywhere for their support through the Carmelo Anthony trade saga. They also stuck around for photos and talks with the fans, most of whom seemed awstruck that their favorite team's owner and GM would actually show up to an event like this. denverstiffs.com

Denver Nuggets, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Carmelo Anthony might be gone, but Nuggets coach George Karl is on the verge of being locked up to a contract extension. Nuggets president Josh Kroenke said after Thursday night's 89-75 win over Boston that negotiations are nearly complete on bringing back Karl for next season. "We're pretty close on that,'' Kroenke said in an interview with FanHouse. "We've been doing that throughout the process and we just had to cut it off at times because we had to focus on Melo.'' FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

The Nuggets started negotiations in December on bringing back Karl, who becomes a free agent after the season. There were some delays due to trade talk regarding Anthony, the star forward who was dealt Tuesday to New York. "Hopefully, soon,'' Kroenke said about when a deal on Karl will be announced. "George is somebody we want to keep here and, obviously, you can see him (Thursday), he does a great job with what he has. We'll hopefully get something done. We want George here for a long time.'' FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

Anthony asked to be traded to the Knicks or the Chicago Bulls, or the Nuggets would risk losing him without any return in free agency, Josh Kroenke said Tuesday. Leon Rose, Anthony’s agent, and Bay Frazier, Anthony’s friend and business associate, also attended the meeting in Baltimore. “I wouldn’t say I was bum rushed,” Kroenke said. “I was prepared. I knew what was coming at me. I just didn’t know the details of it. I know a lot of people around the N.B.A., so people were kind of giving me a heads-up of what they were thinking.” New York Times

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Last summer’s conversation culminated this week with the completion of a three-team, 13-player deal that centered on Anthony. In between were months of starts, stops, rumors and, finally, the trade of one of the game’s best offensive players. “As much as we did try to show him there was a future here, there was never any wooing on our part,” Kroenke said. “Carmelo made it very clear to me personally that it was probably going to be a situation where he wasn’t going to be here next year.” At the meeting, Kroenke informed Anthony — who said the request was made with his family in mind — that a trade to the Knicks would be difficult. But the Bulls would not include Joakim Noah in a deal, and Anthony did not want to sign a contract extension with the Nets despite their tenacious efforts to acquire him. New York Times

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Chris Tomasson: josh kroenke offers a personal apology to the chauncey billups family. says it was very hard to trade him. Twitter

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Chauncey Billups, Josh Kroenke 

Chris Tomasson: Melo had what he called productive meeting with Nugs pres Josh Kroenke. But had no comment on whether it helped chances of staying in Denver Twitter

Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Josh Kroenke 

A Knicks source said Friday that with Dolan assuming control of the negotiations and being the lone Knicks official to meet with Anthony on Thursday, ultimately the decision to make the deal will be his. "The Knicks are giving up a lot, but I can't imagine Jim's ego allowing himself not to do the deal," the source said. "Denver wanted to deal directly with Jim because they feel he'll be more willing to make the trade." New York Daily News

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, James Dolan, Josh Kroenke 

Alex Kennedy: James Dolan and Josh Kroenke are extremely involved in these talks. One source went so far as to say that the owners are calling the shots. Twitter

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, James Dolan, Josh Kroenke 

By going after Anthony, the Knicks are showing the impatience that was a hallmark of the years when Isiah Thomas ran the team. But Dolan and Thomas, a basketball brain trust if there ever was one, are consumed with Anthony. More than Donnie Walsh. "Dolan's going crazy to get this done," said one team source. New York Daily News

Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan, Josh Kroenke 

One source said Dolan made a phone call to Denver, but a person with knowledge of the situation said Dolan probably did not talk to owner Stan Kroenke but to his son, Josh Kroenke, whose title is governor and is handling the trade talks. Stan Kroenke also has a stake in the St. Louis Rams and is forbidden from handling such discussions, according to a source. New York Post

Denver Nuggets, Trade, Carmelo Anthony, Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke 

Karl said Thursday that negotiations between his representation and the Nuggets are progressing at a good pace. While a signing does not appear imminent, he said he's pleased with the attention that team president and governor Josh Kroenke and executive vice president/basketball operations Masai Ujiri have given the situation, considering the pressure they're under to resolve Anthony's situation. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Still, Denver's front office of president Josh Kroenke and vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has taken plenty of heat. Karl came to the defense of the two Thursday. "I went to the dentist (Thursday) morning and I was listening to (radio talk-show host) Jim Rome. He was going off on the Nuggets on how we screwed up the trade. I have no feeling that that's the truth," Karl said. "I think Masai and Josh are great. I think they're very professional. I think they got a lot of character and substance. '' FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

"I honesty think that Josh and Masai have done good,'' Billups said of the two who took over their positions last August after the Nuggets had cleaned out the previous front office. "They've been put in a tough situation. I really empathize with them because they took over a tough job at a tough time. I'm fine with them. I'm fine with both those guys.'' FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke