As the ill will between Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets grows, apparently even the superstar's spouse is caught in the crossfire.

According to a report in the Denver Post, members of the Nuggets' management privately resent the influence of Anthony's wife, LaLa Vasquez, who is in the entertainment industry.  When Anthony switched his representation to CAA, Vasquez also signed with the agency, which is now pushing for Anthony's departure from Denver.

The Nuggets may just recently have come to the decision to trade Anthony but the team has been exploring the possibility of dealing him since June.

Thursday's Yahoo! Sports report mentions the Nets and Clippers as two teams with the most value to send back to Denver in a trade for Anthony.  But the quality of any package of talent and picks that the Nuggets are able to receive in return for Anthony will be directly dependent on whether Anthony is willing to sign an extension with the team to which he would be traded.

It is unlikely that the Nets or Clippers, or any potential destination, will offer their best assets to Denver unless Anthony is willing to extend his contract simultaneously with the completion of a trade.  No team would be eager to give up valuable pieces for what could end up being a one-year rental of Anthony.

And in turn, Anthony's willingness to commit to any team long term could be heavily influenced by which players that team would trade away for him and how much talent remains on the roster he would be joining.

"While it's nice to dream of the Nuggets acquiring a young player such as New Jersey center Brook Lopez or Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin in a package deal," writes Mark Kiszla, "squabbling between Anthony and team management only figures to drive down any bargaining power Denver might have in trade negotiations. An amicable separation would likely benefit the Nuggets far more than an ugly divorce."

Denver owner Stan Kroenke is reportedly firing back threats to Anthony's representatives and seems willing to play hardball rather than let a player under contract dictate terms.  But in the end, Anthony's power to sign or not sign an extension with Denver's trade partner ensures that the team's management and Anthony will need to work together to come to a resolution on the superstar's future.