By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

Nets or Knicks? Knicks or Nets? Either way, Carmelo Anthony will be in the same division as your 76ers this week. There is almost no chance that the Nuggets keep Anthony, a pending free agent.

To start, Anthony is overrated in our opinion. He’s a scorer, but not a shooter. He’s not the top option for a true title contender. Still, he’s an all-star and would make the Nets or Knicks better, especially if Chris Paul joins him in either location.

Carmelo Anthony will be in the NY/NJ area by week's end. What does that mean for the Sixers?

The Sixers would then have more competition going forward. This year, they likely will earn the sixth seed in the East. However, after this year, the Knicks with their own big three of Stoudemire, Melo and Paul would be a force. Melo as a third option is the perfect role for him.

If he ends up with the Nets and can get Paul to join him, that presents a nice starting point for a team with cap room, a billionaire owner and a move to Brooklyn.

The Sixers are trying to build a young squad the right way. They have done well for themselves. However, they need a star, preferably one who can hit the three. Brand and Iguodala aren’t getting younger. By the time this team is ready to compete, they’ll be older and at the end of their deals.

Maybe in three years the team will be a star away and have the cap room to entice someone here. Until then, they’re going to stay in the backdrops of teams to the north — Boston, NY and NJ/Brooklyn — and south — Miami and Orlando — who have stars. Oh, and the Bulls with Derrick Rose are on the rise as well.

Enjoy what the Sixers are doing, but realize they are what they are until they can compete for a star.