Carmelo Anthony Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Clippers Notes: Carmelo, Rivers, Speights

January 29th, 2017 at 3:15pm CST by Will Joseph

The Clippers are in championship or bust mode this season, coach and executive Doc Rivers conceded, and the team may need to add Carmelo Anthony to have a better shot at topping the Warriors in the playoffs, Dan Woike of The Orange County Register writes. At this point, the Clippers must be debating the urgency for a roster overhaul, Woike adds, considering this group still has yet to make an appearance in the conference finals. One name that continues to pop up in trade talks, especially with the Knicks in regard to Anthony, is Austin Rivers, who said he hasn’t spoken to anyone in the Clippers front office or with his agent, Andy Miller, about the possibility of being traded, Woike relays.

Here’s more on the Clippers:

Doc Rivers said he would trade his son, if that was the best thing for the team, and if the Clippers want to trade with the Knicks, that may be the only way a deal gets done, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. The Knicks met with Austin Rivers over the summer, but were outbid, Berman notes, so New York has had interest in the guard. The Knicks would need a third team to work out a deal involving Jamal Crawford or J.J. Redick because of their contracts, while league rules prevent Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose from being on the same team, Berman adds.
The same reasons why Marreese Speights was a good fit for the Warriors, which included having a veteran presence on the court and fun spirit off it, are making him a good addition for the Clippers, Rowan Kavner of NBA.com writes. Speights signed a one-year deal with the Clippers in July.

Latest On Carmelo Anthony

January 29th, 2017 at 9:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Although the Celtics have stated that they’re not interested in dealing for Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks haven’t given up on them as a trade partner, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. New York had a scout at Saturday’s Celtics game and the organization is “intrigued” by several of Boston’s players.

A source told Washburn that Knicks president Phil Jackson has issued orders to move Anthony, who has indicated that the Celtics are one of the teams he would consider waiving his no-trade clause to join. Another source says Brad Stevens would love to coach Anthony, but president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has rejected the Knicks’ overtures. Washburn adds that Boston could serve as a third team to help send Anthony to the Clippers.

There’s more this morning on the Anthony trade front:

The Celtics present the only realistic trade destination for Anthony, according to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports. In a video posted on CSNNE, Mannix says Ainge is in a “great position” to present the Knicks with a lowball offer and dare them to keep Anthony past the February 23rd deadline. Mannix speculates that any deal wouldn’t involve the Nets’ first-rounders that Boston owns for the next two seasons, but may include other Celtics draft picks. He also dismissed recent rumors of a Knicks-Clippers deal, saying it won’t happen unless New York is willing to accept a “garbage package” involving Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford and others.
Anthony admits the trade rumors can be a distraction, relays Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com. “You’ve got to deal with that, even though I try not to read it,” he told reporters. “And everywhere you go, even if you don’t hear about it, somebody is telling you about it, somebody is saying something. It can be mentally draining, mentally fatiguing.”
If the Knicks trade Anthony, they should also get rid of Derrick Rose and some of the other veterans they added over the offseason, suggests Newsday’s Al Iannazzone. Rose is a defensive liability and has already deserted the team once, Iannazzone notes, adding that he doesn’t appear to be part of the team’s “long-term solution.” He also writes that free agent additions Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings didn’t come to New York to play for a team without Anthony, and believes the organization should commit to rebuilding if Anthony is traded.

Northwest Notes: Anthony, Kanter, Towns

January 28th, 2017 at 3:57pm CST by Austin Kent

The Thunder are intrigued by the idea of adding Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, tweets Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, though he also adds that they know such a pairing is a long-shot.

Anthony has been the subject of trade speculation for the last few months. In order for the forward to change teams, however, he would have to first waive his no-trade clause, something that he’s said to have only considered for the Clippers or Cavaliers and not specifically the Thunder.

That said, the possibility of suiting up alongside Russell Westbrook must at least somewhat appeal to the 32-year-old. Westbrook has led the Thunder to a 28-19 record.

There’s more out of the Northwest Division:

After fracturing his forearm while punching a chair, Enes Kanter has undergone successful surgery, writes Royce Young of ESPN. The Thunder big man is still expected to be out of action for 6-8 weeks, but will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Second-year center Karl-Anthony Towns started the year shooting nearly four three-pointers per game. That trend, Michael Rand of the StarTribune notes, has subsided of late. Rand observes that the Timberwolves big man saw his percentage from beyond the arc drop as the season went on and suggests that Towns is now striking a more successful balance between shooting from the outside and going to work down low. Seven of Towns’ highest games scores have come in his last eight game, a span in which he’s shot just 2.0 triples per game.
The unique ability of Nikola Jokic has given the Nuggets flexibility when it comes to generating lineups, writes Nick Kosmider of the Denver Post. His passing ability gives the team plenty of options when executing their offense. “Nikola is a guy we play all over the floor,” says head coach Michael Malone. “He’ll be in the low post. At times he’ll be in the high post and at the elbows. We’ll play through him anywhere.”

Knicks, Clippers Seeking Third Trade Partner?

January 27th, 2017 at 7:50pm CST by Milo Taibi

7:50 pm: Sam Amick of USA Today reports that J.J. Redick is not believed to be involved in any trade talks (Twitter link). If Redick is out of the mix, talks figure to focus on Austin Rivers and a potential third team.

5:47 pm: The Knicks and Clippers are looking for a third team to complete a potential Carmelo Anthony trade, according to Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein of ESPN. One of three players in the NBA with a no-trade clause, Anthony has been linked to the Clippers, Celtics, and Cavaliers over the past week.

The Knicks’ most substantive Anthony trade discussions have come with the Clippers, Shelburne and Stein note, after the Cavaliers rebuffed a Kevin Love-for-Anthony swap. None of the Clippers’ big three – Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan – would be available via trade, and with the recent injury to Paul, the team would be hesitant to deal any of their healthy guards.

Various factors have contributed to the search for a third trade partner. If Jamal Crawford were to be involved in a trade, the Knicks wouldn’t want to absorb the three years and $42MM left on his contract after 2016/17. What’s more, Anthony’s 15% trade kicker would be difficult for Los Angeles to accommodate, since the team is nearing its hard cap.

The market has been slow for Anthony, sources tell Shelburne and Stein, in large part due to the limited number of teams Anthony would be willing to join via trade. Anthony, who has two years and $53MM left on his contract after this season, recently conceded to Al Iannazzone of Newsday that he’d consider leaving New York under the right circumstances.

If the Clippers were to make a deal, Austin Rivers may need to be included, and head coach Doc Rivers told Rachel Nichols of ESPN that he’d be willing trade his son if need be. “If you think you can make your team better, you make your team better,” Rivers said. “That’s my job. Listen, I would trade anyone. You have to be willing to do that, so – and he would be one of them, and any of them would be one. But I don’t want to trade any of our guys. I like our team.”

Latest On Carmelo Anthony

January 27th, 2017 at 10:01am CST by Arthur Hill

As the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors heat up in New York, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News offers a reminder that Knicks president Phil Jackson never wanted to sign him to a long-term deal.

Shortly after Jackson took the job in 2014, he urged Anthony to opt in for the final year of his contract. That would have given the organization more cap flexibility and provided time for Jackson to evaluate whether the team should be built around Anthony.

Anthony opted out and re-signed with New York at $124MM over five years, but Deveney says some Knicks officials believe Jackson would have preferred to see him leave. Jackson reportedly believes Anthony will never adapt to fit the triangle offense and sees his value declining as he gets older. Anthony, 32, still has two seasons and more than $54MM left on his contract. Jackson has reached out to several teams and is not getting the type of offers he had hoped for, according to Deveney.

There’s more this morning regarding a possible Anthony deal:

The Celtics have informed the Knicks that they have no interest in trading for Anthony, according to a report on ESPN.com. The teams had “exploratory talks” about Anthony last season.
Jackson could put Anthony in a position where he has to decide between winning or enjoying the New York lifestyle, writes Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. Anthony still gets criticism for choosing the unstable Knicks over the Bulls two seasons ago, Isola notes, adding that if he blocks a trade to a contender now, it will raise more questions about his commitment to be part of a successful team.
Al Harrington, Anthony’s longtime friend and a former teammate with the Nuggets, doesn’t believe the Knicks star will waive his no-trade clause, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. “The fact he loves New York so much, I think he probably stays for the rest of his contract,’’ Harrington said. “I know he doesn’t want to leave.’’ Harrington was with Anthony when he forced his way out of Denver and added, “I know what New York means to him and I don’t see him giving up on it.’’

Austin Rivers Could Go If Clippers Trade For Carmelo

January 26th, 2017 at 8:55pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Combo guard Austin Rivers has been discussed in trade talks between the Knicks and Clippers regarding Carmelo Anthony, an NBA executive told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.

The Clippers have emerged as a potential landing spot for Anthony but are apparently unwilling to part with any of their Big Three — Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan — to facilitate a trade.

The Knicks are known to think very favorably of Rivers, according to Sam Amick of USA Today, as they made a push to sign him during free agency, Bill Oram of the Orange County Register notes.

The son of coach Doc Rivers is enjoying a career year and his production has jumped since he joined the starting lineup. Rivers is averaging 17.7 PPG, 3.9 APG and 2.8 RPG over the last 14 games. He signed a three-year contract this summer to rejoin the Clippers with a starting salary of $11MM.

That alone won’t be nearly enough to match up salaries, as Anthony is making $24.6MM this season. Jamal Crawford, who is making $13.25MM, has also had his name tossed into trade discussions, according to Turner. J.J. Redick, who is making $7.38MM, is another logical candidate in potential trade scenarios, Amick adds.

Of course, Anthony would have to waive his no-trade clause to make any deal come to fruition.

One unnamed GM believes it will happen, telling Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net, “I’m betting he is playing next to Blake, Chris Paul and DeAndre right after (trade) deadline.” (Twitter link).

Blazers Duo, Embiid Fail To Make All-Star Cut

January 26th, 2017 at 6:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, the Blazers backcourt duo Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum and Jazz center Rudy Gobert were among the prominent players who failed to make the cut on the Western Conference All-Star reserve unit, which was unveiled on Thursday and relayed on the NBA’s Twitter feed. Joel Embiid, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony were some of the notable names who didn’t make the cut on the Eastern Conference squad. (Twitter links).

Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan and Gordon Hayward received the most votes by the conference’s coaches, who pick the reserves. Westbrook, of course, was the biggest snub among the All-Star starters as the fan voting, which counted for 50% toward the overall balloting, put him behind Stephen Curry and James Harden.

Paul George, Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry, Paul Millsap, Isaiah Thomas, Kemba Walker and John Wall were named the Eastern Conference’s All-Star reserves.

Did the coaches get it right or was there an obvious mistake on their part? Go to the comments section and weigh in.

Knicks Reached Out To Clippers, Celtics To Gauge Interest In Carmelo Anthony

January 26th, 2017 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

1:25pm: The Knicks and Clippers have discussed the idea of an Anthony trade that wouldn’t involve any of L.A.’s Big Three, according to Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. The Knicks are open to that possibility, though it wouldn’t be easy, since the Clippers have a hard cap and can’t afford to add much salary. As noted below, the team has also traded away multiple future first-round picks already.

Isola also points out that even if the Clippers were to put Griffin on the table in trade talks (and there’s no indication the team would do so), the Knicks wouldn’t be able to acquire him as long as Derrick Rose is on their roster. The league’s CBA prohibits teams from carrying two players on maximum-salary, designated-player rookie scale extensions, which describes both Griffin’s contract and Rose’s.

11:45am: In addition to having contacted the Cavaliers to discuss a potential Carmelo Anthony trade, the Knicks have also reached out to the Clippers and Celtics to “probe their interest” in a possible deal involving Anthony, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Mannix of The Vertical.

League sources tell Wojnarowski and Mannix that Knicks president Phil Jackson is “determined to find a destination and deal that Anthony would agree to accept.” The nine-time All-Star is one of three NBA players with a formal no-trade clause in his contract, and has repeatedly expressed a preference to remain with the Knicks. However, Anthony has also acknowledged that if the Knicks wanted to rebuild and came to him with a proposal, he’d be open to considering it.

Although Jackson reportedly told Anthony earlier this month that he doesn’t subscribe to criticisms put forth by his longtime friend Charley Rosen in a recent column, Wojnarowski and Mannix hear from league sources that the Knicks president would like to move Anthony and begin rebuilding around Kristaps Porzingis.

According to The Vertical, the Clippers are a team that would interest Anthony, though it’s not clear if the Clips and Knicks would be able to work out a trade that makes sense for both sides. Los Angeles likely wouldn’t be willing to part ways with one of its Big Three – Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan – and the Clippers have already traded multiple future first-round picks — 2021’s pick would be the earliest one they could move.

As for the Celtics, they’d have an easier time putting together a suitable trade package, since they’re loaded with young players and draft picks. However, GM Danny Ainge has long been considered averse to giving up many of those assets unless he can land a superstar. Anthony would have fit that bill in the past, but he’ll turn 33 this spring, and his production has declined a little in recent years, so he may not be the sort of big fish the C’s want to land.

In addition to the fact that he’ll have to approve any deal, Anthony will also be tricky to trade because of his contract. Including this season, Carmelo has three years and $78.7MM+ on his deal, and his salary would increase substantially if he’s dealt, since the contract features a 15% trade kicker. Any team hoping to acquire him would have to send back significant salary to the Knicks, who will be reluctant to absorb too many multiyear contracts if they want to open up cap room for the coming summer.

Still, despite the potential roadblocks, it appears the Knicks would like to make a move with Anthony in the coming weeks, and with his name continually popping up in trade rumors, the Syracuse product may be more inclined to sign off on a deal. This will be a situation worth monitoring closely as we approach February 23’s trade deadline.

Knicks Rumors: Carmelo, Noah, Hernangomez

January 26th, 2017 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of an ESPN report suggesting the Knicks were rebuffed in their efforts to engage the Cavaliers in a discussion about a possible Carmelo Anthony/Kevin Love swap, Anthony told reporters on Wednesday night that he’s unsure whether his club’s front office is trying to push him out the door. “I honestly don’t know,” Anthony said, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News.

“If they want to go in a different direction, that’s something I have to consider,” Anthony later added, hinting again that he’d open to waiving his no-trade clause in certain scenarios. “I think I would have to consider that. All the talk that’s going on, that’s out of my control. Nobody contacted me, nobody contacted my representation or anything like that. So it’s something that I’m not worried about.”

ESPN’s report on the Knicks’ failed pitch to the Cavs suggested that New York’s front office wanted to see if a deal with Cleveland was possible before bringing it to Anthony. So it makes sense that the nine-time All-Star says he had and his reps weren’t contacted by the club about a potential move to Cleveland, since those talks went nowhere. Still, the fact that the Knicks are exploring the possibility of a trade is worth noting.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

The odds of Anthony being moved before the traded deadline appear remote, but it’s not out of the question if the Knicks lower their asking price, writes Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. While Isola declares that team president Phil Jackson seems to have “no use” for Anthony, the Daily News scribe observes that the Knicks forward has the leverage in the situation due to his no-trade clause.
There’s a belief that Anthony would be more inclined to approve a deal to a team like the Cavaliers or Clippers. However, neither of those clubs can make a real play for him without giving up a core piece, which is extremely unlikely, as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders details. Kyler identifies a few other teams that could make a more realistic play for Carmelo, including the Magic, Bulls, and Lakers, though he acknowledges that there would be plenty of roadblocks in any scenario, most notably the fact that Anthony controls the process.
LeBron James, whose call for the Cavaliers to add a “playmaker” has dominated headlines this week, was asked on Wednesday about the Anthony rumor and certainly didn’t sound as if he was pushing for such a deal. “I have no reaction,” James said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. “We got 14 guys in here. We need to be ready every night, who we got in here we got to play. We can’t play fantasy basketball. We got who we got and we got to go out and play.”
The Knicks committed four years and $72MM to Joakim Noah last summer, but the time has come for the team to bench Noah and unleash Willy Hernangomez, argues Marc Berman of The New York Post.

Knicks’ Carmelo-For-Love Pitch Rebuffed By Cavs

January 25th, 2017 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks have made an effort to engage the Cavaliers in trade talks involving Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love, according to Marc Stein and Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. However, according to Stein and Haynes, those efforts were rebuffed by the Cavs.

Anthony has been the subject of much trade speculation recently, despite the fact that he’s one of three players in the NBA with a formal no-trade clause included in his contract. Although the nine-time All-Star has been adamant that he prefers to stay with the Knicks, he has conceded that if the franchise engages in a rebuild and wants to move him, he’d have to consider waiving his no-trade clause.

[RELATED: Players who can veto trades]

The Cavaliers are viewed as one of the teams that would make Anthony seriously consider approving a trade, given his desire to win a title and his long-standing friendship with LeBron James. Anthony was asked today for his thoughts on James’ desire for the Cavs to add a “playmaker” and suggested that he and the reigning Finals MVP wouldn’t be opposed to the idea of playing on the same team at some point, though he doesn’t expect it to happen this year.

“You ask me a question: Do I think he would want me to play with him? Yes. I do think he would want me to play with him. I don’t think he wouldn’t,” Anthony said, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. “But I don’t know if that comment is about me. I don’t think I’m the only playmaker in the NBA.”

Of course, even if the Knicks and Anthony were on board with the idea of a trade to Cleveland, they’d need the Cavs to cooperate, and there’s no indication that the defending champs have any desire to part with Love, who played a major role in securing that title for the franchise.

While the former Wolves star hasn’t always been a perfect fit in Cleveland, Love is enjoying his best season as a Cavalier, with 20.5 PPG and 10.9 RPG to go along with a 37.4% rate on three-point attempts. Those are the best marks he has posted in each category since he was sent from Minnesota to Cleveland in 2014.

In addition to being unwilling to part with Love, the Cavs don’t appear overly interested in acquiring Anthony, who will turn 33 this spring and has one of the NBA’s largest cap hits. Carmelo’s deal, which currently pays him about $24.56MM this season and runs through 2018/19, would become even more expensive if he’s dealt, since it features a 15% trade kicker. Cleveland already has the league’s highest payroll ($127MM+) and projected tax bill ($27MM+), so the team figures to focus on less expensive targets.