Carmelo Anthony might be in the middle of another storm of rumors. Around the same time last year, Melo and the Knicks shot down any and all talks about the possibility of a three-team deal happening between the Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Those rumors were quickly shot down. The Knicks went into the 2016-17 campaign hoping their big-name offseason acquisitions would elevate them back to playoff contention. Unfortunately, all that has brought is some underwhelming play and more drama.
The Knicks apparently once again are tied to the Celtics and Cavaliers with Carmelo Anthony’s name attached. In recent weeks, the rumors about Melo’s trade destination preferences also included the Los Angeles Clippers.
Things appear to be coming full circle. Yesterday, the Knicks reportedly contacted the Cavaliers about their interest in a Carmelo Anthony for Kevin Love deal but Cleveland shot that down. The team also reportedly contacted the Clippers and Celtics about a Melo deal.
Following from Chris Mannix and Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports.
Armed with a hope that Carmelo Anthony will eventually waive his no-trade clause, the New York Knicks have reached out to the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers to probe their interest in a trade, league sources told The Vertical.
Knicks president Phil Jackson is determined to find a destination and deal that Anthony would agree to accept before the Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline, league sources said.
Jackson is determined to rid the roster of Anthony and his contract, and start rebuilding around Kristaps Porzingis, league sources said.
The Clippers are a team that would interest Anthony, league sources said.
We’ll be sure to update you if this situation further develops.
(UPDATE 1/16/17 3:00 PM ET)
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports that any potential deal involving Anthony, the Knicks and the Clippers would not include the Clippers big three of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan.
The Knicks and Clippers are discussing a deal for Carmelo Anthony that does not include Chris Paul, Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan going to New York, the Daily News has learned.
The Knicks, according to a source, are open to trading Anthony to Los Angeles even if they don’t get one of the Clippers’ Big 3 in return.
In fact, the Knicks are prohibited from acquiring Blake Griffin due to a complicated rule in the collective bargaining agreement. The rule states that a team cannot have two Designated Rookie Max extensions on your roster acquired via a trade at any time. Derrick Rose falls under that category.
A Clippers deal for Anthony would likely include one or even two players from the group of Jamal Crawford, J.J. Redick or Austin Rivers, who is the son of Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.
