The Melo-drama continues as the New York Knicks try to get rid of Carmelo Anthony by sending him to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The New York Knicks really want to get rid of Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks are in discussions with the Los Angeles Clippers about a possible Anthony trade.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Mannix of The Vertical, Knicks president Phil Jackson is determined to get rid of Anthony. The problem for the Zen master is that Anthony has a no-trade clause and can veto any deal. Last week Melo told the Zen master that he wants to stay with the Knicks.
The Knicks are open to trading Melo to the Clippers even if they don’t get one of the Clipper’s big three, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, in return, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Due to a rule in the collective bargaining agreement, the Knicks aren’t allowed to acquire Griffin. The rule states that teams can’t have two designated rookie max extensions acquired via trade on the roster and Derrick Rose of the Knicks is in that category.
The Clippers would have to trade about $27 million in salary in order to fit Melo under their salary cap. The Knicks could possibly get Jamal Crawford, J.J. Redick, or Austin Rivers if they send Melo to the Clippers. In addition to the Clippers the Knicks are also talking to the Boston Celtics after the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t want Anthony because Kevin Love was part of the deal.
On Wednesday Anthony said that he doesn’t know if the Knicks are trying to force him out.
“If they want to go in a different direction, that’s something I have to consider,” he said. “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.”
Anthony needs to consider which team to go to now because the Knicks clearly don’t want him. The Knicks want to rebuild and have that rebuild center around their star phenom Kristaps Porzingis. Even though you want to stay Melo, it’s time to leave New York because the Knicks are one of the worst teams in the NBA and they clearly don’t want you, so why stay with a team that doesn’t want you?
The Knicks are 20-27 entering Friday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.
