In the long-standing saga surrounding Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets may have "overplayed their hand" in negotiations with the Nets, according to one executive, and New Jersey's front office is now in the process of "substantively" re-evaluating its pursuit of Anthony.

The Nets have been chasing Anthony for months but according to sources, New Jersey has grown "sick of the whole charade" and have "backed away."

But the Nets have not yet completely pulled out of the hunt to acquire Anthony, who is reportedly reluctant to sign a contract extension in New Jersey.

The Nuggets are expected to opt for a young roster and to try to accumulate draft picks if the team does decide to move Anthony.

Troy Murphy's homecoming with the Nets has been a failure due to a preseason injury, struggling jump shot and sporadic playing time.

"It's kind of a different situation than what I'm accustomed to," said Murphy, who has averaged a double-double in five of his nine seasons. "The role that I'm playing this year and that kind of stuff. With the way the season has gone, it's definitely weighed on me."

Murphy is making $12 million in the final year of his contract and he's worried about what his time in New Jersey will do to his reputation.

"I think if I was to play this role for the entire year, I think it could change the perception of me," Murphy said. "But I think people understand the situation and what's going on. It kind of is what it is."

The Magic are in need of a big man following their two blockbuster trades earlier this month.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated believes that New Jersey's Troy Murphy may be a possibility for Orlando.

"Don't be surprised if Orlando goes after Troy Murphy if Murphy is bought out after the deadline. Big, stretch four would fit the system," Mannix tweeted on Monday night.

Anthony Morrow's timetable to return was two-to-three weeks when he strained his right hamstring two weeks ago.

Now, Nets coach Avery Johnson admits that Morrow is unlikely to return within the initial timetable.

"Might be longer. Right now with his situation with the injury, he's not going on this trip, so that's another week," Johnson said. "He's not even ready to practice."

Morrow has been doing cardiovascular work and will step up his rehab while the Nets visit Oklahoma City, Chicago and Minnesota.

"The degree to which he injured his hamstring, you don't bounce back after two weeks," Johnson said. "I was looking at three weeks before he can start practicing, not three weeks before he can start playing."

Avery Johnson responded to LeBron James' controversial comments about contraction by saying the league might be better of without a team like the Miami Heat.

James said Thursday that he'd like to return to the days when teams had three or four stars and that contracting the likes of the Nets and Wolves might be a good start to achieving that.

"I disagree," Johnson told reporters. "Maybe the league would be better if we didn't have three stars on one team."

LeBron defended his comments on Monday, saying he never suggested the NBA eliminate teams and that he wasn't sure what the word "contraction" even meant.

Avery Johnson said earlier this month that he was looking to put rookie Derrick Favors into the starting lineup earlier than the Nets projected, but the forward is still coming off the bench.

"What we told him today — he's got to give us a reason to start him," Johnson said. "We need to see more consistency. He needs to dunk on three people in a night."

Johnson added that the team does have a plan for Favors to start, and he said, "I would have liked to have done it around here."

Kris Humphries has played well, making it hard for New Jersey to take him out of the starting lineup.

The Nets are hoping to sell Carmelo Anthony on their future by also acquiring Andre Miller, one of his former teammates.

New Jersey has continued talks with Portland and Denver about the possibility of adding Miller in a multi-team trade that would land them Anthony, according to a league source.

Anthony and Miller were teammates with the Nuggets from 2003-06 and played well together.

While Anthony would like the idea of playing with Miller, sources indicate that New Jersey would have to acquire another quality player for him to serious consider signing a contract extension.

Under one scenario, Denver would receive Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy and two first-round picks. In another, Portland would receive Devin Harris from New Jersey.

Troy Murphy helped the Nets notch a victory on Sunday, but he still isn't used to his up-and-down playing situation.

"Not even close. I have not accepted it, not at all," said Murphy. "This is not a role I'm accustomed to, and nor do I expect it to continue. I do not accept it at all."

Murphy hasn't gotten off the bench in four of New Jersey's last seven games.

His name has popped up in trade rumors once again, namely in a possible deal with the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony.

Murphy has been traded twice before in his career.

"I know it's a business. My name's been in there before, it'll be in there again," Murphy said. "I really have no idea [if he'll be traded]. I can only control what I can control."

The Nets and Nuggets are working towards a complicated multi-team trade proposal that would send Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Anthony is expected to accept a contract extension with the Nets following a trade if the team is able to bring back a package of significant talent with him, according to league sources.

So far, packages include some of Anthony's Denver teammates -- including Al Harrington.

"The way this is structured now, the Nets will significantly upgrade their team," said one league executive.

The other teams involved in the talks aren't yet known.

Currently, the Nets are preparing to send Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy, two or three first-round picks and $3 million to the Nuggets for Anthony and Harrington. More players from both sides would likely be involved.

According to a source, Brook Lopez is the only player the Nets haven't involved in any scenario.

No deal is imminent, but sources involved in the talks believe that early January is a realistic target.

Nets executives are still confident that they can put together the best package to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Nuggets.

New Jersey has six expiring contracts and potentially five first-round picks in the next two seasons to use in trades.

Avery Johnson has preached patience, but heading into Sunday's game against Atlanta their record was so poor that some believe it could lead Anthony to decline a long-term extension if a trade is worked out.

The Nets will not acquire Anthony for a host of assets if they can't ensure they'll sign him to an immediate extension.