The Knicks have reached an agreement with former Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien to join the team as a high-level consultant, according to league sources.

The hiring may be a prelude to a larger role in the future.

Warkentien, who will work closely with president Donnie Walsh, has a strong relationship with Carmelo Anthony.

A contract has been drawn for the NBA's 2009 Executive of the Year, but is still awaiting signatures.

The Nuggets and All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony will be in New Jersey to face the Nets on Monday night, which is sure to draw a media firestorm.

It's the team's first trip since Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov nixed a potential blockbuster deal that would've brought Anthony to New Jersey.

"I really don't know what to expect," the forward said Sunday. "I know me, personally, I'm just looking forward to going there and getting a win."

Denver coach George Karl says he doesn't know how the fans will react to Anthony when he hits the court.

"I expect it to be a pre-game intensity to the game, and then I'm sure there will be some antics during the game that will have to be understood and handled," Karl said.

"I would say for most of the time, those things usually motivate my team to play more focused and serious. If we have to play an intense playoff-type style game against a team like New Jersey, I think we're capable of doing that."

Carmelo Anthony has reiterated that it was the Nets that pulled the plug on a potential blockbuster trade that would have sent him to New Jersey.

"I really don't know what is their mind-set. I really don't know if they can come back, if they're willing to come back and say, 'Let's have a meeting,' or they're still interested," Anthony said Saturday. "Everything has died down."

Asked if he was saying that the Nets were still an option, Anthony said, "No. What I'm saying is they said they're out of this whole Melo-Drama."

Anthony also hinted that winning isn't the only factor in his decision on signing a contract extension.

"My decision on whether to stay or whether to leave is based on a lot of things," he said. "A lot of things come into consideration. That's my own things and thoughts that go through my head and things that I talk about with the team, with the front office, with my team. That's stuff that I pretty much keep in house with my rhyme and reason and the method to all the madness."

If Carmelo Anthony is traded before the Feb. 20 All-Star Game in Los Angeles from the Denver Nuggets of the Western Conference to a team in the Eastern Conference, he instead would be placed on the East roster for the game.

The East would be allowed to have 13 players and the West would have a replacement named for Anthony.

An NBA official confirmed the scenarios with FanHouse when information was requested on how any player in the exact situation as Anthony would be handled by the league.

Carmelo Anthony's camp has held the same position with the Nuggets since the summer, according to a confidant close to the newly named All-Star starter. Anthony wants to be traded or he will sign with the Knicks as a free agent.

If Anthony leaves via free agency, the Nuggets would be unable to recoup his real value.

Denver believes the Nets will once again be interested in discussing a trade for Anthony, but the same source doesn't expect that to happen.

The NBA announced the Western and Eastern Conference starters for the 2011 All-Star Game on Thursday, which will take place in Los Angeles on February 20th.

Western Conference
• Chris Paul, Hornets
• Kobe Bryant, Lakers
• Kevin Durant, Thunder
• Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
• Yao Ming, Rockets

Eastern Conference
• Derrick Rose, Bulls
• Dwyane Wade, Heat
• LeBron James, Heat
• Amar'e Stoudemire, Knicks
• Dwight Howard, Magic

• Click here to view RealGM's All-Star page.

Agent William Wesley was positioned in the first spectator seat next to Denver's bench during their 109-100 win over the Pistons.

Wesley is partners with Leon Rose, Anthony's primary agent.

"I think a lot of people over-exaggerate our friendship, but he's a good friend to me," Anthony said of Wesley.

Anthony gave a daily update on trade rumors.

"I really don't know what's going on. It's three weeks from the deadline, and I can't tell what's going on."

The Knicks have surpassed the Lakers as the NBA's most valuable franchise, according to findings from Forbes.

New York is valued at $655 million, while the Lakers are close behind at $643 million.

The Bulls, Celtics and Rockets comprise the remainder of the top-five.

In the wake of LeBron James leaving in free agency, the Cavaliers had a single-year decrease of 26%.

Full Rankings
1. Knicks
2. Lakers
3. Bulls
4. Celtics
5. Rockets
6. Mavericks
7. Heat
8. Suns
9. Spurs
10. Raptors
11. Magic
12. Warriors
13. Pistons
14. Blazers
15. Cavaliers
16. Jazz
17. 76ers
18. Thunder
19. Wizards
20. Nuggets
21. Nets
22. Clippers
23. Hawks
24. Kings
25. Bobcats
26. Hornets
27. Pacers
28. Grizzlies
29. Timberwolves
30. Bucks

The Nuggets are warming to the concept of trading Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks, according to one person familiar with Denver's strategy.

Anthony Randolph has become a more attractive commodity for Denver and would be included in a trade, according to the source.

Randolph has long been connected to Minnesota, where the Knicks would receive a first round pick, but those talks have stalled.

Denver continues to believe that the Nets will also reengage on trade talks.

The Nets pulled out of trade talks with the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony last Wednesday, but there are some around the league that aren't buying the claim.

"I've seen better acting in soap operas than [owner Mikhail] Prokhorov's performance," an executive close to the New Jersey and Denver front offices told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

"The Nets will be back in this thing, but they'll be back in on their terms – not Denver's."

Wojnarowski writes that while that may be true, the Nuggets would have to contact the Nets for New Jersey to have any leverage in talks.

On Tuesday afternoon, Anthony told the Denver Post that he'd consider signing an extension with Denver, Chicago, New York and New Jersey.

The Nuggets are currently on a road trip that will include a stop in New Jersey on Monday.

"If anything, there's no distractions there," Anthony said. "They took the deal off the table."