The Knicks are reportedly still hoping to talk Carmelo Anthony into a trade, but it sounds like he’s ready to move on via buyout.
Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony appear to have reached another impasse. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Anthony’s camp is willing to grant Jackson his wish: for Anthony to longer be a Knick. Unfortunately for Jackson, he’ll need to buy Anthony out to make that possible.League sources: Carmelo Anthony's camp, while acknowledging Melo's preference to stay in NYC, has tried to engage the Knicks in buyout talks
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 27, 2017
Per Stein, Jackson and the Knicks understandably resisted the idea. They’d like to at least get something in return for one of the best scorers in the NBA.
The franchise would look terrible if they let their best player since Patrick Ewing walk away for nothing.
But league sources say that the Knicks have thus far resisted the idea of a Melo buyout that would clear the way for him to join the Cavs
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 27, 2017
The real question is: How long can Jackson and Anthony’s camp play this tug of war? Anthony won’t do Jackson any favors, and if he wants to go to the Cavs, a buyout could be the only way.
Jackson would have serious egg on his face if Anthony went to the Cavs, played well, and won a title. However, it doesn’t seem like he cares about that.
This uneasiness about the best player’s future is just another thing that will send a bad message to free agents this summer. No one is coming to New York.
