Despite the Cavaliers’ unwillingness to move Kevin Love in a deal involving Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks continue to pursue Love, league sources tell Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Shelburne and Stein first reported last week that Cleveland had rebuffed New York’s efforts to work out a swap involving Love and Anthony.
According to the ESPN duo, the Cavaliers do have some interest in Anthony, but would only be interested in such a deal if it didn’t mean surrendering Love. Without any of the Cavs’ Big Three in a trade, the team would likely have to include at least two players out of a group that includes Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Channing Frye in order to make the salaries work. That’s my speculation though — there’s no indication the two sides have specifically discussed those players.
As Stein and Shelburne report, the Knicks have been focused on engaging the Cavaliers, Clippers, and Celtics in trade talks, believing that Anthony would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to accept a move to one of those teams.
However, Cleveland and Los Angeles are both in tax territory, with the Cavs reluctant to add much more salary and the Clippers up against a hard cap, which will make it difficult to complete a deal with either team. Anthony’s 15% trade kicker further complicates trade discussions, as it would add approximately $9.6MM to his remaining salary.
Per ESPN’s report, many of New York’s recent discussions with the Clippers and Cavs have had to include a theoretical third or fourth team to create a plausible trade scenario. As for Boston, the Celtics don’t appear to have substantial interest in Anthony, and any talks with the Knicks so far are believed to be exploratory in nature.
[RELATED: Clippers, Knicks Seeking Third Trade Partner?]
Anthony, who has a formal no-trade clause in his contract and has maintained that he prefers to stay with the Knicks, has conceded that he’d be willing to consider approving a deal if New York wants to rebuild. Still, he told reporters on Tuesday that he hasn’t given the Knicks any list of teams he’d approve. Anthony added that his family will be an important consideration if he’s presented with a possible trade opportunity, since he’s not eager to uproot his wife and son.
The Knicks are as delusional as their fans. No one wants Melo at that price. Declining player that hasn’t been able to adjust his game to the modern style of the league
Somebody with a tight window,like the Clips,would take Melo.I just don’t think they’ll get the return they’re expecting.they’re gonna have to accept a return like the 1 the Kings got for Chris Webber,many years ago.
i think he meant there delusional for thinking they can get love for him
More clickbait bs
How is it click bait if you’re on the website or the app for these specific sports articles lol
“These rumors are clickbait” he says on a rumors website.
Hard to see from either teams’ perspective. Cavs (already top heavy as LBJ indicated) can’t afford to lose multiple rotation players, whereas those same players are overpaid and have little trade value – particularly for a rebuilding team. If the Knicks haven’t given up on Love it’s because Cleveland hasn’t completely shut the door. Although I doubt they trade Love for Melo straight up, there is an opening here for them to get Melo at a discount that (as a win now team) they shouldn’t just pass up without exploring some combinations.
Knicks are only interested in Love to flip him to Boston. He could net them picks and he’s easily more tradeable for obvious reasons.
It’s actually Boston that started the Melo to the Cavs for Love (last year) for that purpose. Boston has lots of picks, but none (considering protection, likely finishes and conversion to 2nd rounders) are really valuable except the Nets’ unprotected picks. And they’re not Kevin Love level valuable. The Knicks can likely get as good a PG with their own pick, and keep Love.
Agreed. Boston’s own picks aren’t valuable since they are bottom of the first round picks. Whatever future picks they own (from other teams) have questionable value since you’re hoping the original team is going to be bad/rebuilding.
With Memphis still looking good, and Conley and Gasol still young enough to build around, the Memphis pick is likely a bottom half of the draft pick. The Clippers pick could become valuable, and while I believe their window is closing soon (if not already closed), the fact that they have so many large salaries tied up for the next few years really forces the Clippers to resign atleast one of CP3/Blake (unless both of them want to leave to play elsewhere). Even then, with no future picks to really build around, it doesn’t make sense for the Clippers to completely tank meaning they become a fringe playoff team (and likely a late lottery pick, which could be valuable but there’s too much time between now and then to really put a value on it). Even then, unless a sucker is willing to take on the contracts, a team made up of DJ, Crawford, Austin Rivers will be bad, but decent enough to not be absolutely terrible (as in 76ers level of historically bad…no offense Sixers fans).
Boston has the Nets pick. I’d say that has some value.
Clips pick is lottery protected for 2019 and 2020, and then converts to 2nd round picks. So, you wouldn’t them to tank, just be one of the last playoff teams (to get in late teens). Memphis pick has lighter protection and does become unprotected in 2021, but odds are it’s a pick in the 20s in 2019. Not trash, but not center pieces of a major deal.
Agreed. Trade would allow the Knicks to get the draft picks they need to reboot, and I’m of the opinion that Melo brings an offensive dynamic to the table for the Cavs. I think he’d raise his game with the opportunity to get a ring. His defense this year competes with Harden’s.
And I thought NY would be happy with Mush mouth Rose only
If Cavs can trade Love and some role players for Melo and Kristaps, this piece makes sense. Otherwise, no way Cavs get Melo.
Have to love how fans can introduce a player more valuable than either of the two under discussion as a way of facilitating a deal. Porzingis is as untouchable as LeBron or Irving. If Love were that untouchable the Knicks would not still be talking to the Cavs.
i agree with you besides the lebron and juries part… cmon now
You can’t be more than 100% untouchable. Porzingis is not only one of the top young players in the NBA with lots of potential upside to come, but, among his contemporaries he’s already the most marketable world-wide. That matters to the Knicks. I didn’t say the Knicks wouldn’t trade him for LeBron if Cavs offered, LeBron approved the trade and agreed to extend his contract. They might. But that has a zero percent change of happening.
I wonder if cavs would do melo and Phil Jackson for love
No way is Love worth both Carmelo
No way is Love worth bot Carmeo
Can we get rid off Phil and keep Melo? I’m so sick of his act. He has caused more problems than any of the players. He runs his mouth about players on other teams (LeBron), has intermediaries trash his own players (Rosen article about Melo) and doesn’t come across like he really cares too much. I understand all the criticism of Melo’s game, and some of it has merit. But I have a problem with Phil getting pennies on the dollar for one of our best players. Please send him to LA to hang out with Jeannie Buss. He is wrecking our franchise.
The franchise was wrecked before he got there, although he isn’t helping any
Trade Melo in a 3 team deal that’s nets you a lottery pick or a young player or both
The Noah and Lee and Rose deals were all desperation to put a moderately competitive team on the floor
I’m assuming all 3 of them have little to no trade value. Not sure what else NY can do to build around Porzingis, but they can’t keep grabbing has been sand battle to the 8th seed in the east
I like the Jackson and Melo package as the outgoing component. The incoming package can be anything on hand. It will work under the cap because that limits only the collective salary, not the collective arrogance, a team can take on.