The Clippers have been frequently cited as a potential destination for Carmelo Anthony, assuming the Knicks forward is willing to waive his no-trade clause. But after another early playoff exit, Doc Rivers‘ club will have some major decisions to face even before determining whether an Anthony trade is possible.
As Marc Berman of The New York Post writes, the belief around the NBA right now is that the Clippers will make every effort to lock up Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to new deals, but may not push quite as hard to retain veteran sharpshooter J.J. Redick. If that’s the case, Berman writes, then several NBA executives believe there’s only one trade scenario involving Carmelo and the Clippers that would make sense — signing-and-trading Redick along with Austin Rivers and perhaps Wesley Johnson in exchange for Anthony and maybe one of the Knicks’ two second-round picks.
The math for that hypothetical swap would work, depending on Redick’s new contract, and one NBA executive suggests to Berman that “it’s really the only thing that makes sense.” Another exec believes it would be a good trade for the Knicks, who would get a reliable shooter in Redick and a good sixth man in Rivers. Whether the Clippers, Knicks, and Carmelo could all get on the same page on such a deal remains to be seen, however.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- In a piece for Basketball Insiders, Tommy Beer runs through a number of possible trade scenarios involving Anthony, including theoretical proposals for long-shot suitors like the Trail Blazers, Bucks, and Pistons.
- We heard earlier this week that GM Steve Mills was overseas scouting French point guard Frank Ntilikina, and international basketball reporter David Pick reiterates (via Twitter) that the Knicks are fond of the 18-year-old prospect. Knicks scout Makhtar N’Diaye, in particular, likes Ntilikina, according to Pick.
- While Ntilikina should still be on the board if New York picks seventh overall, the Knicks would likely be eyeing different prospects if they get some lottery luck and move into the top three. MSG Network analyst and former NBA forward Wally Szczerbiak spoke to Berman (link via New York Post) about some of the top players on draft boards who have a chance to land with the Knicks.
Why do analysts keep referring to a Redick sign and trade without mentioning his interest in new york. Redick seems to me much more inclined to join a contender, or chase a big contract then to be interested in the NY mess. As a UFA he could just say no to both and go somewhere else
“Chasing a big contract” and “going to the Knicks” aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive — he’d have to get a big contract in order to make the money work for a sign-and-trade.
Wouldn’t the Base Year Compensation component of the CBA devalue Redick’s contract in terms of salary-matching in a hypothetical Anthony deal?
Yeah, that’s why it would need to a pretty big salary. Berman’s example is $16MM, which – for salary-matching purposes – would count for $8MM from the Clippers’ perspective. That would be enough to take on Melo’s contract (+ trade kicker) when it’s combined with Rivers’ and Johnson’s salaries.
I actually don’t think it would work from the Knicks’ perspective if they were above the cap, but I guess the assumption is that they’d be using cap room.
Are there salary-matching rules for teams they have to abide by if they are the one sending out the greater amount of salary? (Like NYK would be doing in most any Anthony trade scenario?)
No, but this in this hypothetical scenario, the Knicks would be taking more salary back (since Redick’s full salary would count on their end, while Carmelo’s trade kicker wouldn’t).
Gotcha you’re right, thanks
Dude he has no shot at getting past the Warriors on the Clippers even if they bring Melo on board with Paul and Griffin. At least in New York he would have a bigger role and can still get his money and have a shot at being part of the New Knicks era of Porzingis. If the Knicks can get Redick and Rivers for Melo they have to pounce on that, as for the draft id rather stay away from that french kid and go for Dennis Smith Jr who you know will make an impact from the get go. Sign Muhammad to be the 3 and they’ll be set with Porzingis’s ascension and Joakim coming back.
That is an absolutely terrible trade for the Knicks…especially since they’d have to give Reddick a ridiculous contract to make it work. We already have Noah locked up for 3 more years at an enormous salary….why give another aging veteran who is declining a huge deal too? The Knicks would be better off just waiving Melo than taking back Reddick and Rivers. Plus, the Knicks GIVE UP a draft pick in this trade?? No way. Phil is a terrible GM but he’s not that bad.
Phil is just that bad to do this deal! He’s still thinking triangle and would see Reddick as a perfect fit, ala John Paxson/Steve Kerr type.
They give up a second round pick its not that serious and Redick is not declining. He has never relied on athleticism to produce, he’s a shooter and ideal for the triangle offense plus he’s a pretty good passer and a willing one also. Phil will be around and me as a Knick fan Im just ready to deal with it and see where he has the Knicks to begin next season. Honestly I feel he will right the ship this off-season which is not hard at all when you think about it, Melo absolutely destroys team chemistry and cant thrive in these modern day NBA offenses because he simply does not pass and plays no defense. D’Antoni lost his job because of Melo, but while Lin,Chandler,Amare,Shump, and JR where out there making noise and the Knicks were winning the Garden was insanely loud and sold out. Once Melo got back he ruined everything and Lin was never the same. Melo needs to be on a team where he is the sole scoring option and put defenders and passers around him, Brooklyn desperately needs talent he can go over there.
Did you watch any of the Clippers playoff games this year?? Reddick was bad and completely disappeared in the last 2 games. You can’t pay $16-18M for a guy on the wrong side of 31 who needs stars to get him open shots. He’d be terrible in NY and the fans would go apesh!t over his contract just like we are doing over Noah. The Knicks would be worse than the Nets if this trade happened…plus, we’d have 2 over paid veterans signed to long term deals (Noah and Reddick). No thanks!
The “one NBA executive” who is quoted by Berman as saying this makes sense is probably Doc Rivers.
Dude how are you just jumping to conclusion that Noah’s contract is a waste? If he comes back next year ballin you will feel real stupid. Sure judge Noah off his first year after having 2 years off.
I never said Noah was a waste…just that his contract is terrible. But I won’t hold my breath for a 32 year old broken down C who is self check on offense to improve much. The only thing Noah was good at last year was getting offensive rebounds…and that’s not worth $17M per year for 3 MORE YEARS (!). He can’t make a shot beyond 2 feet and is even worse at shooting FTs…which means he can’t play the 4th quarter of close games…so any D or rebounding he has is wasted on the bench. So yeah, I’d stand my by claim that Noah’s contract is bad.
LOL at the Noah comment. You’re basically paying this guy 17MM to come off the bench and play, maybe, 20 minutes for 30 games. Nevermind what he gives you (not much), it’s a terrible waste of money, and nobody wastes enormous sums of money quite like the New York Knicks.
Well apparently he took another year off, dude looks washed up. Everyone like the Noah signing when it happened, but we all said 4 years what the F-ck. If we trade Melo we have to be getting picks not giving them up. Don’t want someone else’s scrubs either
Good luck getting anything for Melo. Washed up AND overpaid. I guess there’s always a sucker out there who will take him, but maybe you should be happy just getting him, his game, and his salary off your books.
Explain to me how Melo is washed up?? Dude will play for at least 6 more years. He may not be a top 10 or even top 15 player but he’s still an all-star and will get you 20ppg and 7 rpg every night against the other team’s best defender. Go look at his stats…I’ll wait.
Delusional Knicks fans…
Ill take any combination of Crowder and Bradley or Redick and Rivers for Melo
No I’m saying Noah is washed up, I like melo and he’s not a bad guy, but he absolutely kills a system that involves ball movement and hitting the open man regardless of who it is. The Knicks best shooter is Carmelo and the ball comes to a complete stop and everyone watches it is time for him to go
Melo makes poor decisions with the ball. His ego doesn’t allow for significant contributions from his teammates.