A report last month indicated that New Orleans would be willing to help facilitate a multi-team Carmelo Anthony trade, but the Pelicans are also eyeing Anthony themselves, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, who suggests that the team has expressed interest in the Knicks forward.
The Pelicans would want to keep their core of Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Jrue Holiday intact if they were to pursue Anthony, so putting together a viable package for Carmelo would be challenging. Even if the club is able to entice the Knicks with a competitive offer, a deal probably isn’t in the cards. According to Berman, Anthony has told the Knicks that he’s not interested in waiving his no-trade clause to go to New Orleans.
Anthony has plenty of leverage in any negotiations because of that no-trade clause, which has limited the Knicks’ options. As Berman notes, New York is holding out hope that the All-Star forward will expand his list of preferred destinations, with teams like the Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, and Thunder believed to have conveyed some interest. At this point, Anthony is focused on the Rockets, and appears unwilling to accept a deal anywhere else.
Although the Rockets and Anthony have mutual interest, Houston has yet to make an offer appealing enough to intrigue the Knicks, who don’t want to take on Ryan Anderson‘s contract. According to Berman, the Knicks has told Anthony they’re unwilling to make a “bad trade,” encouraging him to expand his wish list to give the club more options. Carmelo seems to understand the team’s stance, a source tells Berman.
While a deal that sends Anthony to the Pelicans appears unlikely, Berman’s report confirms that the team is making an effort to act on Cousins’ recruiting efforts. The star big man said last week that he had reached out to “some of the biggest names that are on the block right now,” which was likely a reference to a pair of his former USA Basketball teammates, Anthony and Kyrie Irving.
Pelicans, what a dumb name
Haha, so true. They wanted it to be the Jazz but Utah wouldn’t give up the name.
(The Utah Jazz were the New Orleans Jazz before moving to Salt Lake)
Thank you for the history lesson. None of us knew that.
Anthony better be careful he doesn’t overplay his hand. Knicks could just as easily not trade him at all, then file a grievance against him if he acts up or doesn’t play. They have nothing to lose while rebuilding anyway.
Yeah, I am a little surprised he wouldn’t consider Portland. I’d think a year or two in Portland would be better than one year in New York. I think he may opt in for 2018-2019, he won’t get $27.9 million on the open market next summer.
While New York is dysfunctional, I think he actually likes playing in the city and would be fine staying there for another year unless he’s traded to Houston
I don’t think competing for a chip is his main priority now. I also don’t think he would be that close to competing in Portland either.
If the Knicks didn’t trade Melo, then he would just play out the season. This does make the Knicks better and hinders their rebuild. And at this point, the Knicks couldn’t refuse to play Melo or else their reputation of how they treat their players would take another hit
What reason in the world would make you think Melo would act up or not play? He didn’t do that when Phil was there publicly disparaging him in the press and things were at there worst. Why would he do that now? There’s no overplaying of his hand. He said it many, many times that he didn’t want to leave NY. All he is saying now is that he doesn’t want to leave unless it’s Houston (or maybe some other destination he might have in mind). It’s not a situation comparable to Kyrie Irving where Irving demanded a trade.
I’ve been saying that for weeks now. When the season ended Melo was clearly stated that he wanted to remain in NY. The only thing that changed was Paul going to Houston. So he figured why not waive his ntc and play with Paul down in Houston. Reports also surfaced that he would waive his ntc for Cleveland then changed his mind. Not sure if it was the fact that it was leaked to the press that Irving wanted out. I feel that Melo will be in NY for the start of the season unless Houston can find someone to take Anderson’s contract. If the the Knicks start the season poorly then i can see Melo waiving his ntc for teams like the Thunder, Blazzers, or maybe even the Wizards.
Melo should happily go to any team that wants him and his insane contract. I know he wants to win a championship, all players do, but he needs to realize the situation he’s in. I think he’s being unrealistic and acting like a diva and his play doesn’t come close to backing up his attitude.
The Knicks allowed him to have his no trade clause when he re-signed. Why should he waive it and go somewhere he doesn’t want to be? It’s his right!
He’s a mediocre, non-leader who has the attitude of a megastar that can lead a team. If he wants out of NY, take anything he can get. Teams don’t want him. That’s clear. He thinks he has control but he has none. I hope the Knicks keep him and sit him. Let him stay on the bench in his old age.
Teams dont want him??? Thats clear? Whats clear is that u live on planet clueless. Cavs want him, Portland, OKC, Houston, New Orleans. Obviously u dont follow the NBA
Lol
Those of us on planet clueless see that these teams are giving up nothing of value to get him. What does that tell you ?
Signed, from planet Clueless.
How do you know what the trade offers are? Do you have breaking news that nobody else has? The issue isn’t that teams don’t want them its that he only wants to go to Houston and he has a no trade clause. Plan and simple! Although you would know this, like everybody else in the world knows this, if you followed the NBA!
Newsflash! This has been an ongoing story fir quite some time now.
Sigh…
List of teams that have wanted Melo in the past 12 months:
Cavaliers
Celtics
Thunder
Rockets
Blazers
Pelicans
And they’re probably more teams that have interest in Melo but have not gone public. Further more as the season gets going and teams are seeing how they will fare against the Warriors more teams will inquire about Melo. The main situation with most of those teams, is that Melo doesnt want to play for most of those teams.