Austin Rivers said the Knicks were on his short list when he was a free agent this past summer, as Laura Albanese of Newsday writes. “[The Knicks] were a huge option,” Rivers said. “That was a team that I was really considering.”
The Knicks are eyeing Rivers in a potential Carmelo Anthony deal. The guard hears the rumors surrounding his name, but he remains focused on helping his current team win.
“When [a trade] happens, it’ll be new for me, but after that, it’s whatever. Just focus on playing basketball, help my team, that’s it,” Rivers said.
[RELATED: Latest On Carmelo Anthony]
Here’s more on the Knicks from Albanese’s piece:
- Team president Phil Jackson and coach Jeff Hornacek wanted to sign Rivers over the summer and they believed he would have been a great fit next to Derrick Rose, as Albanese passes along in the same piece. “Jeff had a vision of playing a little bit up-tempo,” Rivers said of his free agent meeting with the Knicks. “I don’t know how that’s panned out or what they’ve done, but I think that also changes when you’ve got certain players . . . He wanted to [coach us the way he] coached that Suns team, they wanted to get up and down and he thought me and Derrick could play together, get up and down, start ‘1’ and ‘2.’ ”
- Anthony has not said publicly that he would waive his no-trade clause to leave the Knicks, but his former coach Jim Boeheim thinks he would do it for two teams, Albanese relays in the same piece. “I think it depends on the team,” Boeheim said. “I think [the Clippers or the Cavaliers] would be ideal. But I don’t know if it can be worked out. I hope it can.”
- Boeheim added that he’d love to see Anthony play with “somebody that could win.” He added that the Knicks have to make a move because he believes the team cannot win as currently constructed.
- Clippers coach Doc Rivers wouldn’t entertain much trade talk when asked about Anthony before tonight’s game. “We don’t have Carmelo. I swear to God. He plays for the Knicks. That’s your story and that’s the way we leave it. You can ask us about our guys, but Carmelo is not on our team,” the coach said.
Melo needs a new team. It that contract! Rivers a the next 4 knick 1st rounders for Melo? Another dead contract would have to be added to make it work. So maybe Cavs can unload a dead contract to help.
Sorry. Meant to say: Rivers for Melo and the next four knick 1st round picks.
Are you dumb? “Next four Knicks 1st rd picks” ? Why the F would any GM do such a thing especially for Melo now in his situation…
He’s just trying to take a shot at Carmelo, sounding dumb and dumber in the process…
I hate to say it but the nets did it for two aging players kg and pp don’t get me wrong I love it bc I am a Celtics fan
Rivers is trash only reason he’s on the team is because of his dad
Really? Watch a Clippers game sometime. He basically helped make them respectable in the playoffs when CP3 and Blake both went down. Rivers isn’t a starter quality guard, but he’s a good backup guard. He’ll never live up to draft status/college hype, but you can do a lot worse than Rivers coming off the bench.