Carmelo Anthony Discusses No-Trade Clause, Knicks

As we noted last night, Sunday was another interesting day for the Knicks, as Carmelo Anthony faced questions about his future with the team and his potential willingness to waive his no-trade clause. The latest round of speculation was fueled by a column from Charley Rosen of FanRag. Rosen, a longtime Phil Jackson confidant, was extremely critical of Anthony, writing that the forward’s legs are “going, going, almost gone,” and adding that he has “outlived his usefulness” in New York.

Twice during Sunday night’s conversation with the media, Anthony was reminded that the critique came from Rosen, not Jackson. Rosen said in an email to Marc Berman of The New York Post that the opinions in the piece were entirely his, and that he hadn’t spoke at all to Jackson about them. However, as Frank Isola of The New York Daily News writes, the nine-time All-Star “had no trouble connecting the dots.”

Here are a few of Anthony’s notable postgame comments, via Isola and Berman:

On the idea that he has “outlived his usefulness” in New York:

“If that’s the case, if that’s where it’s coming from that side, I guess it’s a conversation we should have. If they feel my time in New York is over, I guess that’s a conversation we should have.

“Listen, if that’s how they feel, if that’s coming from that side, then that’s what’s coming from that side. I haven’t thought once about that. I hear it, hear all the rhetoric going on out there. I still come to work every day, play and bust my ass, and try not worry about it.”

On the fact that some media and fans have speculated about him waiving his no-trade clause:

“They want me out? People can have their own opinion, but I haven’t spoken about it. I haven’t mentioned it, not once. That’s been the trend when you start losing. … I think I posted that (on Instagram) the other day. When we lose, it’s me. When we win, it’s us. That’s how I feel. It is what it is.”

On whether he would waive his no-trade clause:

“I’ve never even thought about that. Like you said, I guess there’s people talking about it. I don’t know … it’s not something that I’ve thought about so far.”

On the Knicks’ poor performance so far this season:

“It’s a disappointment, but what can we do other than try to change it at this point? I don’t feel like the season is slipping away, but it doesn’t feel like an average slump either, because we’re much better than what we’re putting out on the court.”

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