On Monday, Carmelo Anthony said he was sorry that teammate Chauncey Billups has seen his name brought up in a proposed three-team deal between the Nuggets, Nets and Pistons.

Billups is a Denver native who wants to stay in his hometown.

He has intimated that if he's traded to New Jersey, he might ask them to tear up his contract after the season so he could return to Denver.

"He was looking forward to retiring here, whenever he's done," Anthony said. "To see him and all this stuff that's going on right now, I feel bad about it. I guess that's the business of basketball."