It was an eventful long weekend in New York, as Phil Jackson used his Good Friday press conference to espouse the belief that Carmelo Anthony would probably “be better off somewhere else” where he can contend for a title. The players’ union objected to Jackson’s blunt – and public – assessment of the situation, while the Knicks president’s comments may inspire Anthony to dig his heels in this summer.
One frequent criticism of Jackson’s handling of the Anthony situation has been that publicly expressing a desire to move on from the star forward won’t exactly increase his trade value around the league. Sean Deveney of The Sporting News investigated that topic, speaking to a handful of NBA executives about Carmelo’s current stock, and found that the Knicks may have trouble finding a taker for Anthony, even if he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause.
“If he were willing to keep altering his style of play, you might say yes,” one GM said of trading for Anthony. “At his best, when he was four or five years younger, you could win if you built the team to fit what he does. [The Knicks] had some good teams, people forget. But at this point, at his age, it is not possible unless he becomes more of a role player — a stretch four; a second or third option. But then you’re paying $25MM per year for a role player, and how does that help you?”
While other executives are more sympathetic toward Anthony’s situation and still like him as a player, his exorbitant salary for the next two seasons – which would include a 15% trade kicker if he were dealt – is a sticking point for many execs.
“I like Carmelo, I think he takes a bad rap,” an Eastern Conference exec tells Deveney. “He doesn’t get in trouble, he has put up with a lot from that organization and I think a lot of guys would have lashed out by now. Give him credit for that. But anyone who brings him in has to ask, does he make your team better, looking at everything including his (cap) number? In most cases, that’s going to be no.”
As for which teams might be matches for the Knicks in a Carmelo trade, most executives who spoke to Deveney proposed the same few clubs we’ve heard in previous Anthony rumors. The Cavaliers are viewed as more of a long shot, with most execs suggesting that the Clippers remain the best bet — particularly if L.A. has another early playoff exit and wants to shake things up. One Western Conference executive also pointed out that Anthony’s no-trade clause will likely help keep his trade cost down for any team acquiring him.
“If he waives the no-trade, you know he is going to be OK with coming (to his new team),” the exec said. “He is not going against his will. And look at it, everyone has the Knicks over a barrel. They’re just desperate to move the guy. You are not going to have to give up much of anything to get him, just make the salaries match.”
For all the latest updates related to Anthony, be sure to keep an eye on our rumors page for him.
What’s the plan here? We have almost no assets.
We can trade Melo for nothing now or lose him for nothing in two years.
Kristaps, the only good move Phil made, has no reason to stay in NY any longer than he has to. Phil is sabotaging his only accomplishment here.
Only the most delusional fan thinks any free agent better than Rose or Noah will sign here.
The only hope is to get lucky in the draft again, but what’s the point if Phil scares them off before they reach their potential.
Melo could get traded to the Clippers even though considering they couldn’t beat a Gobert-less Jazz at home, I think the Clippers should blow their team up as well.
As for Rose, he’s not a bad player. Most of those Knicks players aren’t half as bad as how they were made to be. But you can’t try over and over to put square pegs in round holes and hope to succeed.
it’s a 7 game series. people overreacted so much to that loss by clippers. It was extremely frustrating but it’s game 1
I hope Melo goes to the Clippers because we need a player like that can score and play defense we do not need Griffith it’ll be nice if we move Griffith to Boston and take Melo
Trade Porzingis for the number one pick to Boston and bring Fultz to the Garden. Porzingis is exactly what Boston needs.
And that improves the Knicks… how?
Fultz is a combination of Wade with Rose, he has insane wingspan and will be a superstar. He could lead the Knicks better then Melo and Porzingis ever will. Porzingis will be a very good player but I don’t see a ALL NBA First team type player in him so why build around him?Fire Phil, trade Porzingis and try and go for the number one pick.
You’re rating KP much higher than you’re trying to show. Boston won’t give up Nets’ pick for someone who’s “nothing special”. Also, trading one young guy for another leaves Knicks back at square one with a rookie who still has to acclimatise to NBA.
Yeah but if Porzingis is really that unhappy I have no issue with them sending him out.
So what you’re saying is Boston would be nuts trading the number one pick – Fultz, for KP.
this is all little Jimmy Dolans fault….they suck….Porzingis is the smartest dude there….hes smart enough to know this will probably get him traded…Melo did this to himself he should have never signed that deal….Phils an idiot just wants the cash.
Porzingis is nothing special, trade him and the pick for the number 1 pick and get Fultz.
Wrong! Rose is bad for the future of the Knicks. Not a good passer, can’t shoot the 3, plays no defense and not really a good ball handler which causes him to have a high turnover rate!!!
Basically, other GMs are saying Phil’s an idiot who is clueless as to how to run a team from the top without actually literally saying that. The only real solution here is to fire Phil and bring in a GM who knows how to use a system or adapt to the current players’ strengths. Grunwald was doing this OK until he made the bonehead unprotected 1st for Bargnani deal…then Melo got hurt (only time in his career BTW)…which led us to Phil and the dumpster fire we have now.
The only way the Knicks can even remotely be successful in the short term (Melo isn’t going anywhere without some other team completely screwing the Knicks) is to fire Phil and hire a real coach who isn’t a puppet. Honestly, I think Hornacek would be OK if he didn’t have Phil and Rambis telling him what to do. If the players knew Hornacek was in charge, they’d respect him.
Only with a new GM and coach will other players come to play around Melo. That should be the strategy at this point…bring in some decent veterans (even D.Rose) and play with Melo the last 2 years….THEN rebuild after they leave via FA and KP and whomever we draft the next 2 years become the go to guys. We actually had decent talent this year…it was the leadership that caused the poor play. I mean, we had all this crap going on and still won more games than 6 other teams and could have easily won 10 more (putting us in the playoffs or just missing) based on last second shots that didn’t go our way.
Rose is the anti Triangle PG.
Fresh thought, why not boost Melo’s value by offering a package that includes him and KP. Would hate to see Zinger go, but adding him to the mix makes a deal with the Knicks much more attractive.
They did get close with each other, and I’m sure would be interested in playing with each other somewhere else.
Throw Porzingis and the Knick pick for that first pick would get you Fultz. Sign Millsap to play the 4 with Noah at the 5. Bring in Tucker and thats it, forget waiting 2 more years for Porzingis to finally come around.
PG-Fultz
SG-Lee
SF-Tucker
PF-Millsap
C-Noah
Fultz is the next big superstar, NY get him in the Garden. Porzingis acts like he’s already big time skipping meetings lol, leave NY dude.
I don’t see it. None of it. And that lineup is just as bad as today’s, if not worse.
I agree except brining back Rose.
Soaking him in a brine solution might actually help.
The only way I see someone actually making a trade for Carmelo is if the Knicks swap bad contracts with another team. Maybe trade with the Lakers for Luol Deng or something like that.
Sending Carmelo to Lakers for Nick Young and Deng would work, and solve problems for both teams.
Meanwhile, Nix have time to build through the draft, and Carmelo can bask in the limelight of the other coast until he retires ring-less.
Another option:
Carmelo can stay in NY with the Nets; trade him straight up for Brook Lopez and Noah can play as many minutes as his injuries allow, behind Lopez.
Nix still gain time to build through the draft, and in 2 years they have enough cap room to get some real free agents.
Why would the Knicks trade Melo for Deng and Young? Deng’s contact is horrendous. At least Melo only has two years left. And Young is a cancer. At least Melo hadr some trade appeal.
Why tf would NY reunite Melo with Lin in Brooklyn? Lakers already have Ingram why would Melo go there to play with that young team which is still 2 years away from contending? Melo’s best shot at a title would be Houston
Because Melo being there for almost nothing probably gets them PG in ’18.
Why are we still talking about this.
Total waste of time.
I don’t know everything that’s gonna happen but I do believe hornacek will resign (if he resigns he saves future potential if he has another year like last he will be hnkarketable) and melo will be released(Jackson can’t trade for anything that won’t hurt the knicks and at the end of the day he’d rather release him than dealnday to day with him another year). I don’t see any other options than That.
You guys are forgetting Melo has a no trade clause. No way in hell he goes to the Nets or Lakers. Pretty much only the Clippers at this point but that could change. You get more value in keeping him. Why trade a dollar and get a nickel in return? Firing Phil should be the next move but idiot Dolan just extended him. I’m starting to think I’m a sports masochist rooting for this team. Lol
They just extended Phil so they won’t be firing him. Melo at this point isn’t the scorer he once was , is not a number one option anymore , would be a good number two option for a lot of teams though . By the time the knicks get descent melo will be too old already . Melo you love New York but you won’t win a title there . You have better chances with the cavs , clippers , celtics , and a few other teams . Let’s see what happens this offseason , I just don’t see any good free agents going there . Bad contracts of Noah , lee, lance Thomas , and if they keep rose , he isn’t worth 20 mil a year . Good luck knicks
Seems they’re stuck with Carmelo and stuck with Phil so any near term solution is going to have to involve them figuring out how to get along with each other. Phil needs to realize that winning in the 90s doesn’t automatically all of his ideas good, and Carmelo probably needs to realize he’s got a legacy contract and is not really at the stage of his career where an entire team is going to be built around him, anywhere.