Pistons said to be in talks with Denver for Anthony

The Pistons are in ongoing trade discussions with the Denver Nuggets with two All-Stars as the potential centerpieces, a team source told the Detroit Free Press on Saturday.

The Nuggets want to bring point guard Chauncey Billups back to his hometown. And the Pistons want to make good on their botched 2003 draft and bring high-scoring forward Carmelo Anthony to Detroit, the person confirmed.

But while talks are ongoing at this point, the Nuggets are reluctant to include Anthony in any proposal. The source said the sides are "not even close" right now. It's unclear what it might take to pry him away.

ESPN.com reported, without citing a source, that the Pistons recently offered Billups and Tayshaun Prince for Anthony, but the Nuggets weren't interested. Denver countered with an offer of Allen Iverson or a package with Marcus Camby, but Detroit is only interested in Anthony.

Pistons President Joe Dumars said at his season-ending news conference that he wanted to dismantle his core this summer and that he was open to moving any player besides point guard Rodney Stuckey.

"There are no sacred cows here," Dumars said. "You lose that sacred-cow status when you lose three straight years."

Dumars also reportedly said he is not interested in other teams' second- or third-best players, a category Iverson and Camby would fall into.

Billups signed a $60.5 million, four-year deal last summer.

ESPN.com reported that Anthony is meeting with the Nuggets' front office today to ensure that the team is not looking to trade him. He has said he wants to stay in Denver, where he's become a legitimate superstar.

The Pistons turned down the chance to draft Anthony in 2003, opting for big man Darko Milicic, who struggled and was traded.

Rumors heat up

Rumors have begun swirling that the Heat would consider trading Chicago native Dwyane Wade to the Bulls for the first pick in the draft, plus Tyrus Thomas and Larry Hughes. Miami has the second selection, so such a trade could land the Heat the two top prospects in Memphis guard Derrick Rose and Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.

The Heat also will be waiting to see if forward Shawn Marion opts out of the last year in his deal, at $17 million, to become a free agent on Tuesday.

Does height matter?

There was a petty debate about whether Beasley was 6-10, as he was listed in high school, or 6-7, as predraft workout measurements showed.

"I've never seen anybody do to college basketball what Mike did," Kansas State coach Frank Martin said. "We listed him at 6-9," Martin said. "Last time I checked, I've seen a lot of 7-footers in the Hall of Fame that didn't average 13 rebounds a game in college basketball. It's not to where the top of our heads go. It's where the tip of our fingers go when we extend our arms. That's what matters in basketball."

Hold on, Hibbert

On Georgetown center Roy Hibbert's draft stock, one NBA scout said, "Hibbert is going to need a parachute on draft day. The young centers have passed him in the eyes of teams. His stock is just plummeting, when last year he could have been a top-10 pick. Guys were able to really get a good look at him last season, and more questions were answered by his performance last year."

Jimmy Jam jubilant

Standing near the Celtics locker room after they won the championship, with tears in his eyes behind his sunglasses, was Grammy-winning record producer James (Jimmy Jam) Harris, who is Kevin Garnett's brother-in-law. Harris introduced Garnett to his future wife, Brandi, when Garnett was playing for the Timberwolves.

"Kevin is such a basketball historian," said Harris, who missed an event at the White House to attend Game 6 of the Finals. "When the clock ran out, he kissed the parquet. He kissed the logo in the middle of the floor. And I don't think it could have happened to a better guy to come to this great organization and win."

Etc.

USA Basketball will name the 12-member team for the Beijing Olympics today.