Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has told the team to end discussions on the Carmelo Anthony deal.

In a news conference before Wednesday night’s game against Utah, Prokhorov said he decided on Tuesday to stop pursuit of the Nuggets All-Star forward, unhappy with how things played out in public.

The new owner says the deal took too long and became too expensive.

“I’m not happy with the way … this deal has gone until now,” said Prokhorov. “It has taken too long. It has been played out in public and it certainly has taken a toll on the players and I believe that it has cost us several games. I think management did a great job, but there comes a time when the price is simply too expensive. I’m instructing our team to walk away from the deal.

“And the meeting that was our management was supposed to have in Denver with Carmelo tomorrow is hereby canceled.”

Previously, New Jersey had offered to ship six players and at least two first-round draft picks to Denver in a deal that would have sent Anthony to the Nets along with former Pistons teammatesChauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.

“I never met with Carmelo and I never spoke to him,” Prokhorov said. “Maybe he sent me e-mail, but really I don’t use computers.”

Information from ESPNNewYork.com’s Mike Mazzeo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.