Carmelo Anthony has been a person of interest all season long for the New York Knicks. The veteran has shown poor body language on the court and has been involved in disputes with the front office, and his time in the Big Apple may be coming to a apparent close. Today, it was reported that New York had offered Anthony to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a deal involving All-Star Kevin Love. In the report, Marc Stein of ESPN said that Cleveland immediately turned down the proposal and has no interest in negotiating with the Knicks.
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| Carmelo may be on his way out soon |
Anthony met with Phil Jackson last week, and it seemed to be a step in the right direction. Of-course, the 14-year veteran has a no-trade clause that limits the Knicks' leverage, but he recently said that he would listen to management if they approached him about a possible trade. Here lies the problem with this whole dilemma: Phil Jackson will do no such thing.
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| Where exactly is Phil Jackson? |
Jackson is the most successful coach in NBA history, and has enough pride to dub himself as the "Zen Master." After signing Joakim Noah and acquiring Derrick Rose this off-season, the Knicks were expected to be significantly better than they are today. New York hasn't been "Brooklyn Nets-level" bad, but have truly underachieved as the first half of the campaign comes to a close. Unfortunately for Carmelo Anthony, the star of the team, a large part of the blame has come his way.
Anthony, now 32, is having a solid season, racking up 22.6 PPG with 6.0 REB and 3.1 AST. He has two guaranteed years left on his contract with a combined value of $41 million. For the 2018-2019 season, Anthony has an early termination option that allows him to hit the open market.
In any sport, when a team struggles, the blame is always assigned to the star player or coach. In this case, Anthony has carried the heavy burden of the New York media, as well as the pressure to deliver for a passionate fanbase. While he can be an erratic shooter, Anthony has proven that he can still be a top scorer in the league, and that puts value on his name.
So, if he is willing to waive his no-trade clause and Phil Jackson finally crawls out of hibernation, could we see Carmelo sporting a new uniform in few months? If yes, which teams could be interested in the future Hall of Famer? Let's take a closer look:
Cleveland Cavaliers:
- LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony have been close friends for a very long time and some believe that the two are interested in teaming up in the near future. As said in the introduction, Cleveland turned down New York's offer but it is something to keep an eye on as the deadline nears. If Anthony wants to win his first NBA Title, it is hard to find a better location than the defending NBA champions in the Cavaliers.
Boston Celtics
- Boston is a team that is still trying to find it's identity. Isaiah Thomas is a budding star in the Association, but the rest of the squad is comprised of average-to-good starters and solid role players. If the Celtics want to compete with the big boys, they absolutely need to swing a trade to acquire some more star power. For Anthony, he can join a historic franchise that is on the rise, and stay in the Northeast region that he has been accustomed to for the last six years. The Knicks would be foolish to not at least call the Celtics and see if they can pry away Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder, or even one of their many first round picks.
Los Angeles Lakers
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| Will Anthony be wearing the Blue and Gold in a few months? |
Los Angeles Clippers
- Similar to LeBron, Carmelo is very close friends with Chris Paul and the two have been rumored to join up in the not-so-distant future. The Clippers have had issues getting past the first round of the playoffs, but Anthony would greatly benefit the organization. The team could form it's own "Big Three" with Paul, Anthony, and DeAndre Jordan, who has been regarded as one of the top defensive centers in the NBA. The cost would be Blake Griffin, the 27 year old out of the University of Oklahoma. As a five-time All-Star, Griffin has a nice reputation as a player, and with free agency coming at at season's end, Los Angeles could be inclined to get "something" for him before he leaves. For the Knicks, the only way they should consider this deal is if Griffin is open to a contract extension before the summer hits. Also, this likely wouldn't be a one-for-one swap, as it could include draft picks and other players from each side.
The NBA Trade Deadline is February 23 at 3 p.m. Eastern, and it is expected that we hear a whirlwind of rumors surrounding Carmelo Anthony until that point. Whether he will be dealt or not remains a huge question, but the decision that is chosen will show the fan-base the true direction of the franchise. If Anthony is traded, we could see other names on the move as well, such as Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, and Kyle O'Quinn, among others. Ultimately, it is up to Phil Jackson to approach Carmelo and inform him of his true thoughts on the matter. From there, the two parties can work together and do what is best for everyone involved.
