"The two architects gazed from afar at the cracking foundation.

Nuggets executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri stood side by side Wednesday, watching Carmelo Anthony shoot jumpers after practice. Whether it's in hours, days or weeks, Melo will soon be gone — and the Nuggets' franchise blown up.

Because Melo has forced the Nuggets to trade their foundation by refusing to sign a contract extension, the Nuggets' leaders believe the best way to start over is not tinkering around the edges, but building from the bottom up. And that means a wholesale roster shake-up is coming.

Nothing is official yet, and Nuggets executives have rarely spoken publicly about their intentions during the drawn-out trade talks. But sources have said Denver is discussing a blockbuster trade that would send not only Melo to New Jersey but also all-star guard Chauncey Billups, in addition to unloading Al Harrington and expendable bench players such as Anthony Carter and Shelden Williams. In addition, veterans J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin have expiring contracts and might be moved before season's end.

"When you look to do big trades like this, you're looking for a combination of young assets, cap flexibility going forward and financial relief," said former NBA executive Tom Penn, who is now an ESPN analyst. "Those give you the ability to rebuild."

While there are many unknowns about who will be on Denver's roster after the team is reshaped, the one certainty is that point guard Ty Lawson will stay. Smith calls the 23-year old Lawson "the future" of the team.

"He makes the open 3, he's confident in getting to the basket and creating shots for other people," Smith said.

Lawson said he would "embrace the challenge" of being the starting point guard should Billups be traded.

Coach George Karl said: "Ty is doing a good job, but Ty's got to mature too. He has a laid-back mentality that drives me a little crazy at times. My big belief and approach to leadership is that you lead by example, you lead by attitude and you lead by approach. You don't lead by words. And his laid-back attitude probably stops him from being the leader I'd personally like him to be right now. But I think we can change that.""