The Carmelo Anthony saga continues, with the Knicks remaining hopeful that they will be able to trade the veteran scorer, Ian Begley of ESPN.com relays (ESPN Now link). New York is still seeking to free up cap space in order to pursue free agents, with Anthony’s $26,243,760 the largest salary currently on the team’s books.
Of course, dealing Anthony is a matter complicated by a number of factors: His salary will be difficult to move at this juncture without taking back significant dollars in return. This isn’t something the team is apparently too keen on, given its reported stance of wanting to add younger players and not take on any high-dollar talent this offseason. Plus, ‘Melo’s contract includes a 15% trade kicker, which certainly won’t help matters financially.
Another hurdle to any prospective deal is Anthony’s no-trade clause, which could scuttle any potential swaps. Anthony has reportedly been reluctant to agree to waive the clause thus far. But that may have been product of his power struggle with former Knicks honcho Phil Jackson, who had a publicly antagonistic relationship with the star forward. It’s unclear if the team has been able to rebuild its relationship with the player in the wake of Jackson’s departure. Anthony could be holding out hope for a buyout, which would provide him much greater freedom in choosing his next destination.
Potential suitors for Anthony include the Rockets and Cavaliers. We heard on Friday night that New York and Houston had discussed Anthony, but there’s currently no traction there. The Knicks and Rockets had also touched base last month on an Anthony deal, but the Knicks were reportedly not interested in taking on Ryan Anderson‘s $19,578,455 salary for this season. The Rockets certainly made themselves considerably more appealing to Anthony with the addition of his close friend Chris Paul. However, if the Knicks are unwilling to add Anderson, it will be extremely difficult to trade ‘Melo to Houston without a third team getting involved.
The Cavaliers would also offer Anthony an immediate chance to compete for a title, but unless the Knicks were willing to take back Kevin Love and/or Iman Shumpert/J.R. Smith in a swap, a third team would need to be involved here as well. Love doesn’t fit the Knicks’ reported desire to get younger and cheaper, plus, having him and Kristaps Porzingis in the same lineup could lead to some redundancies on the court. Cleveland is another club that is likely hoping that Anthony and the Knicks will reach a buyout arrangement in the near future.
One potential dark horse suitor that could emerge for Anthony is the Celtics. This is purely speculation on my part, but if Boston misses out on Gordon Hayward, it could pivot and explore the possibility of acquiring Anthony. As Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald noted earlier today, Boston’s cap room will no longer be available next summer when new deals are due for Isaiah Thomas and perhaps Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley as well, meaning 2017 is likely the team’s last and best chance to land a top-tier free agent/player. While Anthony is no longer in his prime, pairing him with Al Horford and Thomas could give the Celtics a solid lineup, plus, allow youngsters Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum more time to develop.
Since any Anthony trade at this time is purely theoretical, let’s hear in the comments section below what YOU think a fair and reasonable trade for Anthony would entail, and what destination he is likely to end up at. If you get it right and ‘Melo is traded, you can point to this post and show others just how prescient you are.
Trade him for Love and thats it. Put KP at the 5 and Love at the 4 and thats it. Both teams get better and watch Love get back to averaging 20+ with 10-20 boards a night.
That’d be idiotic for cavs
Traiding love for Melo would be dumb. Only way I see Melo going to cle is in a buyout
As a Raps fan, if Melo would be willing to waive his NTC to come to the 6ix, I’d be comfortable trading JV, Carroll and Joseph, plus a couple of heavily protected first round picks, for Melo and Lee. Lowry, DeRozan, Melo, Ibaka, and Noguiera as a starting 5 with Powell, Wright, Poeltl, Siakam, Lee off the bench isn’t too shabby.
You’re a terrible raptors fan
Lmao. The 6ix. What a poser.
You won’t have to give up anything for Anthony.
He’s like a repossessed car — he’s yours if you just agree to assume the payments.
If Anthony won’t cooperate, sit him on the bench the entire season. His ego won’t be able to handle it. If the Knicks are forced to eat his $24 mil salary, make him eat wood on the bench. He’s worth nothing to the team’s future. Knicks need to focus on their youth movement like the Yankees. Melo is toast.
What’s he not cooperating with? He has a no trade clause. Fully in his right.
This the truth if he doesn’t wanna help these young guys play then eat the bench
Melo to Thunder for Kanter, Singer, and Huestis, maybe throw in a protected pick too. Thunder can use him at the 4 since Gibson left
Singler
Where does okc get that protected pick.
Problem here is Melo has all the power. He’s already a hof. He can sit on the bench as you say but he won’t care. And in that case why doesn’t the team waive and or release him.
Phil Jackson was the problem but remember Dolan is the owner and never stepped in until recently this circus went on for over a year. And Jackson calling Lebron out and calling people his ‘posse’. Melo wants to stick it to the Knicks. Unless he’s traded to Houston, OKC, or Cleveland he probably isn’t waiving that trade clause. Melo and Thomas in Boston wouldn’t work. Love isn’t being traded for Melo that makes you worse. He’s probably bought out eventually whether a month or halfway through the season I would suspect start of season or halfway through. They don’t want the fans to look at them as giving up now if they buy Melo out right now.
If the Knicks want to trade him, they will be forced to accept a return that is almost nothing. He’s worth nothing. He makes waaaaaaaay too much money, brings no leadership, no defense, and declining offensive skills. Plus he is a diva. Nobody wants that on their team.
It must be nice knowing Melo personally.
Thats the reputation he has built from his knicks tenure. Put him on a playoff caliber team as the second or third option and he will produce efficient offense and be motivated on defense.
very difficult to trade Melo since he holds no trade clause. Houston would need to find another team in a 3 way trade and find a taker for R.Anderson’s 19mil/yr or the Knicks do the Cavs a small favor and reduce their tax payments by taking a bad deal (ie IShumpart or JR.Smith) plus an asset like KLove . of course Knicks might have to include salary going to Clev … getting complicated … and what if the Knicks aren’t big on having Love on a rebuilding team then shuffle him onto a contender for younger not as developed assets .. possible but more complicated. ……. but before gving Melo a buyout I would sit him on the pine as someone else had mentioned. gets Melo to play ball and significantly reduce his buyout amount to get his freedom
How does sitting someone on the bench get them to play ball? That’s literally the opposite of that
Melo and Noah to the Celtics for Crowder and 2-3 of the Celtics future round picks (obviously not the Nets or Lakers. If the Celtics were willing to deal those they’d have George). I’m pretty sure any trade the Knicks are trying to pull off involves moving Noah also.
Ridiculous.
Any deal bringing Anthony to Boston would have to include Porzingis. Anthony is everything the Celtics aren’t.
The celtics were willing to deal those picks. There were two problems, Indiana wanted to much from the celtics while the celtics knew the exact price for pg and pg wouldn’t sign an extension unless they got Hayward. Indy wanted all their lottery picks(tatum included) plus 2-3 of their top players. Celtics are not going to ruin their future while they know the real price for PG around the league.
meyers leonard,allen crabbe, and a pick for melo. go blazers
Cavs should trade Love for Melo and one if their young pieces. Only way it’s really fair for both sides. Knicks are doing a full rebuild anyhow.
Young pieces? The only young piece is Cedi Osman.
Is there any way the Lakers can trade
For him or does that take up all their cap room for next year?
If they can get Knicks to take Deng it wouldn’t affect much
Melo with his phat boody nobody wants him he can only shoot more not
How long has Love on his contract ?
Melo has unfortunately influenced Porzingis negatively. He has a right to his no trade as the Knicks have a right to make him squat on the bench. He won’t want to waste a year of his career and will change his tune.
Trade him to the Lakers for Randal and Deng.