Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Carmelo Anthony is very close to becoming a Net, the New York Post reported Sunday night citing sources.

“There could be an agreement by (Monday),” one source said.  Multiple league sources confirmed that the Nets,Nuggets and Pistons were close to agreeing on a deal that is similar, but not as exact, as the 17-player megadeal that has been reported. But the primary pieces remain intact in the deal that now has anywhere from a dozen to 15 players.

The prized chip, Anthony, would come to the Nets, who also would receive Chauncey Billups from Denver and Rip Hamilton from Detroit.

That backcourt, the Nets have felt, would be enough to convince Anthony to accept an extension to play in New Jersey. The Nets, from the very first day, have been confident Anthony would be agreeable and their confidence apparently is about to be rewarded.

“There are a few matters the Nets still have to clean up,” a source said.

One matter was Detroit’s reluctance to accept Johan Petro in the deal but a source said the matter could be resolved.

There also seemed to be the matter of where exactly Troy Murphy would end up with his expiring $11.9 million contract. Detroit seemed to be the apparent choice but there was a scenario of him going to Cleveland, which is armed with a $14.5 million trade exception. Now it seems he is back going to Detroit.

Insiders insist Detroit’s reluctance to part with a first rounder to be rerouted to Denver would not stop the deal. And Detroit is most anxious to shed Hamilton’s salary, which called for $25 million for the two years beyond this.

The Nets still are sending Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow and at least two first rounders to Denver and Murphy to Detroit. Stephen Graham, Ben Uzoh also go out, apparently to Denver.

The largest trade in NBA history was a five-team, 13-player deal in 2005.

By Newscore / Read more from The New York Post