Carmelo Anthony has been open to a trade to the Cavs or Rockets, though it was recently reported that he’s focused on joining Houston over any other destination. The Rockets also have interest in such a pairing but they aren’t the only team that would like to bring Melo aboard.
We learned this weekend, that the Blazers have interest in Anthony. Portland feels that it can compete with nearly any team in the Western Conference should Melo come to town. Apparently, the team’s star shooting guard agrees. C.J. McCollum posted a picture of Anthony in a Blazers jersey on his Instagram earlier today, signaling his support for an Anthony deal.
Anthony hasn’t made any public statements since the report of Portland’s interest in him. The Blazers have never been included in any reported short list of teams for which he was willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Yet, for the sake of tonight’s community shootaround, let’s assume Anthony is willing to accept a deal to Portland. Should the Blazers make a deal for the 10-time All-Star and if so, what should they give up in return?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!
No. Melo is done in my opinion. Why would anyone pick up that salary much less for a guy on the downside of his career. Can Melo still get you 20? Without a doubt. But I don’t think he can be a third fiddle catch and shoot guy.
Should’ve built a package around those 3 first rounders they had this past draft…poor asset management .
With the money they already have committed and the Knicks (appropriate) reluctancy to take hefty salary back, I’d be shocked to see Melo head to Portland.
He’s not going to Portland
I think if the Knicks are willing to take salary and Melo is willing to drop the no-trade (both big “ifs”) it could be a great deal for both sides. Knicks can get 2-3 young role players with potential (Crabbe, Leonard, Harkless, Davis, etc.) plus a future 1st round pick, and Blazers get an elite scorer to try to keep up in the West. From the Blazers side it’s a no brainer, they already have the salary wrapped up in the players they would send to the Knicks, I just don’t see the Knicks wanting to take back that much salary.
If we can drop the Crabbe and Leonard contracts on the Knicks, I’m all for it. Leonard doesn’t even play and Melo would be a huge upgrade over Crabbe. We’d be able to get out of the last years of those deals and only have 2 years of Melo’s contract so it might be a good financial decision to do that. But I really don’t want them to give up Harkless and Leonard because that wouldn’t save us any money. Basketball wise I would love Melo on the Blazers. We already play no defense so might as well make the offense better lol
I’ll gladly take that offer yoyo. Leonard would be a fine compliment to Porzingis. I fee like they can feed off each other. Very similar styles. Haven’t seen Crabbe play but it seems like all I see these days are Blazers fans complaining Crabbe’s “bad contract” given to them by the Nets. Dude shot 44% from three! Both players are very young. Crabbe is the No.3 option (maybe4?) and has to compete wth McCollum and Lillard for shots. On the Nets who knows if Crabbe averages 18ppg+ but obviously pure speculation on my part.
Best trade scenario I’ve seen. I don’t even want your draft picks, but it wouldn’t surpise me if Blazers added some sort of draft pick compensation to sweeten the pot.
Man I honestly love Allen Crabbe as a Blazers fan, he’s so good when he looks for his shot but he is honestly very one dimensional. He can play passing lanes well sometimes but he’s not as good a defender as you’d think. I believe the Blazers would need to include a draft pick or the Knicks wouldn’t do it. I’d like to see Leonard get some time on a different team too, I still think he can be a good player in this league too. I think part of the reason people are saying it was a bad contract from the Nets is because the terms include a 15% trade kicker since they had to match the Nets offer sheet. Someone would probably pay AC $18 million to play for them if they got another good asset but when it gets to $20 million that’s kinda hard to trade.
I mentioned a month ago and early in the free agent, draft time, that the Blazers should have gone hard after Paul George.
What they need is a wing to go along with their quality big man and backcourt.
I would take a flyer on melo because what else can the Blazers do? Stand pat and be a 4 seed or 5 seed? I say go for it. Get Melo.
The Knicks? Who knows what they’re doing…. I guess hope for some quality young guys in return?
I wouldn’t take 4 or 5 seed for granted without adding something.
You’re right…. I should have said 4-8 seed.
Melo , Noah,Lee, and a 2nd rd pick For Aminu, Harkless, Crabbe ,Leonard and a first rd pick.
No thanks lol no need for Noah or Courtney Lee in Portland.
Harkless, 1st round pick and Leonard
Melo on the Blazers and them Warriors in trouble, lets stop making this team out to be some unbeatable roster. If you can keep up with them on offense you have a chance and the Blazers would have three players who can get you 30+ any given night, you fools saying Melo is done are out of your mind.
Oh man you are literally high. Draymond, Curry, Durant, and Klay are miles better than Lillian’s, McCollum, and Anthony. The warriors would wipe the floor against that team. Especially since Melo doesn’t play D. Durant would eat him alive on the court.
If you would have asked me a week ago whether Melo would waive his no trade to go to Portland, I would have said no. Today, with how badly he wants away from the Knicks (and rightfully so), I think he would be willing to at least entertain a multitude of situations.
In the grand scheme of things, with Melo having a player option next year, any move can be for just one year if he wants it to be. With all three of his buddies also able to be FA’s next summer, the possibilities of pairing up with one or more of them could be plentiful.
If he was tied in for two years or more, I say he still stays very selective, but if the Rockets can’t find a way to pull it off, and the Cavs aren’t overly inclined, I would not be shocked to see him in a different uniform next year.
Harkless is a nice piece, and though I like Crabbe, I think I would rather pick up Turner. A, I think the Blazers would be more interested in moving Turner, which may increase their willingness to add pick(s) to the deal. B, it looks like the Knicks are struggling to find a second Point Guard, and with how successful Turner was with being a second unit ball handler in Boston, I think he could play behind and beside Frank, taking some pressure off the rookie.
After spending the money on THJ, and having Lee as well, I think there’s less need for Crabbe then Turner
Yea but crabbe is young and kind of athletic. Which is what the Knicks are looking for. Plus they can play him at the other wing spot alongside hardaway. That gives them very good shooting with frank eventually at the point, which fits in with the modern NBA
Crabbe is hardaway jr from last year. Their salary, play style, and size are almost identical. If the Knicks could get 1st rounders I’d be happy
The Blazers make the most sense for the Knicks from an organizational standpoint. Blazers have a few young assets that they can send to the Knicks in return for Melo compared to the Cavs and Rockets. However, not sure if Melo is willing to go to Portland since all the rumors are that he prefers Houston.
Depending if Portland would want to take on Courtney Lee. I would like to see a Melo & Lee for Evan Turner, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Harkless (St. Johns fan as well lol).
I might be in the minority on Aminu, but I felt like I saw him do some really nice things last year. And like the previous comment addressed by Greg, the Knicks need a PG along Ntilikina. The trade would also open up a little bit extra cap room.
I know this a more pro-Knick trade but I do think Melo and Lee can provide some extra scoring punch along Lillard and McCollum for the Blazers to keep up in the West.
Sorry for the long post.
Dilemma:
Melo wants HOU.
HOU knows this. They have leverage and not many attractive assets. Ryan Anderson is a near certainty in any proposed deal.
POR has some assets. But Melo no like it. NYK brass will prefer this but Melo has NTC.
So what’s Melo do…drop the NTC to move to hipster Rip City with no chance to win a title?
Or hold out, force NYK’s hand and insist on HOU and risk that no deal happens?
Depending on what they trade for Melo, the Blazers definitely at the very least have a chance to win a title
Melo is just a scorer, but his points are rarely impactful to the outcome of a game. For that reason, he’s overpaid. He really should be getting half of what he makes annually to come off the bench as a 6th man. His ego won’t permit him to accept a supporting role, so he is basically useless to any team at this point in his career. The Knicks are better off just paying him to get lost and move on with the rebuild unemcumbered.
Melo is given a bad wrap in the eyes of fans. Yes hes a scoring specialist but he is a willing defender.
The Knicks have not done right by him and surround him with a good supporting cast.
The one year in 2013 the Knicks actually did that, The Knicks won the division and Melo was scoring champ.
Haaa get out of here with that garbage. The most go ahead field goals in the past ten years and 1 of 5 players to average 20+ for 14 straight seasons in the history of basketball. “His points rarely impact a game” you make me laugh
Seems like a poor fit from Knicks perspective. The Blazers are well above the tax line, and apparently want to reduce salary, so it would be quite a feat for them to take on another 26 mm consistent with that. The Knicks don’t need to trade Melo if all they are getting back is larger salary commitments for longer periods of time.
Melo, Noah, Thomas and Knicks 2019 1st round pick for Turner, Harkless, Aminu, Leonard and Portland’s 2018 1st round pick? I don’t remember what I mentioned a few weeks ago, but the point remains that Melo would have to waive his NTC and probably, most of his trade kicker. Portland is usually a place people like once they’re there, but I doubt Melo wants to move all the way out there at this point of his career