While the Rockets remain Carmelo Anthony‘s supposed primary destination, the Trail Blazers have done well to establish themselves as a suitable alternative, Cody Sharrett of the team’s official site writes.
Sharrett cites comments made by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in a recent radio interview (~25:00 mark), suggesting the Trail Blazers could, theoretically at least, be a good landing spot for the veteran.
“The [Trail Blazers] are an interesting team in this because C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard have done a really good of recruiting Carmelo,” Wojnarowkski said. “They’ve been on him.”
The scribe notes that Anthony’s feelings about McCollum, Lillard or the Trail Blazers are ultimately inconsequential if the club can’t put together a package of assets that appeals to the Knicks.
“But if they could, then the [Trail Blazers] are a sleeper team in this to get Carmelo to waive his no-trade because I’m told they’ve piqued Carmelo’s interest at the very least,” Wojnarowski added.
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- The Thunder are said to have had talks with undrafted free agent Brad Wanamaker, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports. The 28-year-old guard is currently under contract with David Blatt‘s Turkish league club.
- Recently signed Timberwolves guard Marcus Georges-Hunt has the same contract as if he were claimed off of waivers, Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News tweets. Georges-Hunt was waived by the Magic on July 31. It’s a possibility that he sticks on the roster through to the regular season.
- Sportswriters that cover the Thunder are torn as to whether or not Semaj Christon will remain with the team come opening day. Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman, who says ‘Nay’, thinks Christon will be the odd man out after the club re-committed to Nick Collison.
Need sixers cap space to make this work. Okafor to knicks and Anderson to Portland. Harkless and Leonard to sixers and turner to knicks. Blazers get melo.
I doubt the Blazers take Melo’s AND Anderson’s contract. Plus they’d have to send out a few picks as well to get the Sixers to take Leonard and the Knicks to take Turner. Tying up that much future cap space and losing future picks isn’t something I see the Blazers doing. I think if they get Melo, no way they get Anderson.
Justin Anderson from the sixers.
Oh ok! Dang then I would love that deal if I was the Blazers, if they could get both of those guys then giving up picks isn’t as bad since you’re getting young talent back too. And getting rid of Leonard and Turner contracts? That’s a win for them for sure
Yes and knicks get a slightly less awful contract in turner if they can get him to agree. Biggest risk may be sixers giving up so much cap flexibility gambling that harkless is a good fit with their core.
Knicks won’t take on Turner’s contract (worse than Anderson), nor would they have much interest in Okafor (since they didn’t want Kantor). Harkless would have appeal (age, position, upside), but if there’s a bad contract involved it would have to be a lower one (Leonard maybe) and some pick to compensate. Not sure why 76ers would be involved. Blazers want to shed some more salary, but that’s not the Knicks’ issue.
Knicks have no leverage.