As one of just three NBA players with a formal no-trade clause in his contract, Carmelo Anthony wields an unusual amount of leverage. While Anthony prefers to remain a Knick and can’t be dealt without his approval, the nine-time All-Star tells Al Iannazzone of Newsday that he’d be willing to consider waiving that NTC if the front office wanted to move him.
“I think it will be more on the front office,” Anthony said. “I have the power, but still I would talk to them. We would be in communication if they feel like they want to go in a different direction, they want to start rebuilding for the future. If they tell me they want to scrap this whole thing, yeah, I have to consider it.”
Anthony reiterated that he has no interest in leaving New York, and wants to win with the Knicks. However, as he suggests, the idea of a multiyear rebuilding project probably doesn’t appeal much to him, so if the Knicks were to tear things down, he’d be more open to accepting a deal. Otherwise, he’d like to stick with the club, even in a season that has been disappointing so far.
“When you’re in the middle of battling, whether we’re winning or losing, me personally, it’s hard to even sit down and say, ‘[Expletive], I want to get out of here,'” Anthony said. “There’s a part of me that also would feel like I’m being selfish to the guys that are on the team right now, in the midst of us losing to just try to figure a way to escape from everything. For me personally, it would be more of something I would really have to think about and consider. Put it all on the table and figure it out.”
Following the publication of a column by Charley Rosen of FanRag, a longtime Phil Jackson confidant, that was extremely critical of Anthony, the Knicks forward met with the team president earlier this week. During that sit-down, Anthony informed Jackson that he wants to remain with the franchise, while Jackson distanced himself from the criticisms in Rosen’s piece.
So basically, he’s totally open to a trade. He just wants to put this out there so the Knicks look like the bad guy, not him. Unfortunately for him, he IS the bad guy. As a player and a teammate. He’s selfish, overpaid, and stubborn. He is so overpaid he will have to be basically given away. Teams still may not want him with that contract.
And why is he the “bad guy”? He doesn’t want to be traded… He turned down a trade to the Cavs last year, just so you know… He just said that if the Knicks don’t want him he would aprove a trade, but he made it clear he wants to stay…
He did not turn down a trade. Cavs didn’t want him. He wants to play there but no one wants him.
lol the Cavs don’t want him!
Agreed. And overrated and horrible defender and selfish
Carmelo needs to chase a ring he’s still a very good player
I don’t understand why is everyone else so obsessed with Melo going ring chasing when the man obviously can’t care less if he wins one or not…
Rumor was that Boston approached the Knicks with a vague idea (hoping to get Love in a 3 team deal). Cleveland was never actually involved and was never going to do a Melo-Love swap in any event. So there was never anything to turn down.
Rumors are a dime a dozen. So are declining, aging players. Too bad for Melo, he also comes with a huge deal overpaying him. The Knicks never should have gave him that contract. That’s the kind of move that sets your team back for a long, long time. He didn’t deserve it.
Melo cares about a ring about as much as a billionaire cares about spending a $1 bill.
So basically everyone hated lebron for the decision but lets hate melo for being loyal to his hometown team. Ok makes sense
People just hate good players who aren’t on their team. Durant, Westbrook, Cousins, Lebron, Melo. There are people who hate all of them. I’ve learned to accept it, and move on.
He was hardly loyal. Just ask Denver how loyal he was.
Boom!!!
Melo should have a deal with Lazy-Boy by now. Dude is just chillin collecting those NY checks to ‘feed his family’ right?
Knicks would get something (not a lot) if there were some good matches out there. There really aren’t any contenders who are likely to want Melo enough to match the required percentage of Melo’s contract (after trade kicker) with guys they’re willing to move (and the Knicks would be willing to take). Maybe a multi-team deal, but nobody deep in luxury tax land is adding that salary regardless.
Melo Ron Baker and Plumlee to the cavs for Tristan Thompson Iman Shumpert and Richard Jefferson
Knicks get pau gasol, danny green, kyle anderson
Spurs get carmelo anthony, brandon jennings
Knicks lineup:
Drose
Danny green
Kyle anderson
Kritaps porzingis
Pau gasol
Spurs lineup
Tony parker
Kwhai leonard
Carmelo anthony
Lamarcus aldridge
Dwyane dedmond
Works cap-wise, but not happening. Melo as a Spur is funny, though. Doesn’t really help either team. Knicks need youth/picks/cap relief. Spurs would be deducting 2 starters who fit their scheme for 1 who does not. Spurs want the spot up 3, tenacious D and quick ball movement from their wings. Sound like Melo?
Its funny yeah but i feel like if melo wants a ring that bad only pop can point out his true potential yeah i know melo wants the ball but at this point of his career he will sacrifice hugging the ball for a chance at the title he is still an elite offensive player that can spread the floor for kwhai and lamarcus and like i said pop can make him play defense…as for the spurs scheme he will adjust quite nicely cause he dont have to jack up 20 shots all game!! Sure he will decrease his points per game average but thats what i mean by sacrifice…the knicks will most likely ask a draft pick but i feel the spurs will not pull the trigger cause melo is 189 years of age….just to much asking price
You just made both teams worse for years to come. Never be a GM outside of XBox.
Carmelo to the spurs that will never happen. Nope pop wouldn’t want that.
Why not!!!! almost every player that played under coach pop respect his ways of making vet players understand the system and plus coach pop and maybe doc rivers are the only coach that manages vet mins better then any other in the league but its really up to melo if he wants to win now..
If he waives it, who realistically makes a trade for him?
Bulls, Lakers, OKC, Clippers?
–Blake & Moute for Melo works money wise.
Those are the teams he might waive for, but none are feasible destinations. Clips aren’t giving up any of their big 3, for Melo, and they’re right at the tax line, have no draft picks and not enough other pieces that the Knicks would even want to even match contracts. Lakers are out of it this year and still don’t control their draft pick. They’re not trading their good young players. The Bulls are in the same position as the Knicks, and there’s no purpose in that deal for either side, including Melo. He could help OKC if he’s willing to play second fiddle RW. But they almost never trade young talent until they may lose it (what “win now” trade have they ever made?). Kanter would have to come back to the Knicks. Also, not sure Melo wants to go to OKC.
I could see the Clips entertaining Melo for Blake. Probably won’t happen, but keeping their ‘Big’ 3 together hasn’t worked yet and most likely won’t. Both guys could use a fresh start. CP3 wouldn’t let Melo dog out on D every possession. It would be good for him.
Nobody on the Knicks can keep Melo in check. That’s the entire problem.
I see the Celtics as a nice fit. They may be able to contend with Melo as an addition. They have the number one pick overall for next year. That might work well. Knicks may have to eat some salary, but who knows??? If they trade him to any other second tier contender, the pick will most likely be a late first rounder.
We shall see
Problem is as much Melo’s skill set as it is his attitude. Neither is likely to improve for the better after 13 years in the league, but the former can’t. He’s a natural ball stopper. Some guys just need process time with the ball to maximize their skills, he’s one. If he tries to spot up and shoot quick 3’s or pass quickly more, his efficiency will drop even further. He’s under 35% as career 3 pt shooter as it is. He’s a poor defender at either the 3 or 4, and always has been. Effort and a lack of grittiness is blamed, and its a factor, but talent is just as big a factor, at 32 even more of a factor. He doesn’t possess the lateral quickness or vertical/physical abilities to defend at a high level. Those believing that as long as he’s at the 4, it will be OK are kidding themselves. He is no more likely to take a charge (something an athletically challenged 4 man, all 4 men really, must do) than he is to chase younger quicker 3 men around the perimeter, let alone switch. Poor defenders don’t become even average when the athleticism wanes. For that matter, low energy defenders don’t change either. Energy is a talent too (usually a young man’s talent).