Anthony has a no-trade clause and promised this month he will be with the Knicks next season. The imminent hiring of Jeff Hornecek as coach only should cement the promise, as Anthony was no fan of interim coach Kurt Rambis.
More on Carmelo Anthony Trade?
Ian Begley: Carmelo Anthony was asked by Yahoo! Finance if he'll be playing in New York next season. "Oh yeah, you'll see me (playing) for the Knicks, absolutely," he said Wednesday at the TechCrunch Disrupt Summit. Anthony has a no-trade clause in his contract, which has three years remaining. He'd need to waive the no-trade clause in order to leave New York.
But while the team's timeline for becoming a contender is perhaps longer than Anthony can wait, retiring a Knick remains his primary objective. "I think it's kind of just me and the way that I am as a person," Anthony told The Vertical. "I think a lot of times I can focus on certain situations. You can't just make a decision based on being emotional. That's why I try to get away from everything and don't even think about it, because if you make a decision from an emotional state, you might regret that later."
Ian Begley: Here's Carmelo Anthony on why he still believes in Phil Jackson: "I don't really know what's happening as far as the coaching decisions and the players. At this point, I still have to believe in what Phil is doing. I can't say that I don't believe in him no more, this is over with. I still have to believe in him. I'm here, I still want to be here. I still want to be successful so I don't have no other choice but to believe in what's his plan."
Sirius XM NBA: Carmelo Anthony tells @Frank Isola that he thinks he can play 4-5 more years & wants it to be with the #Knicks --> bit.ly/1qYI620
About 90 minutes after the New York Knicks' 93-89 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, someone asked Carmelo Anthony if he thought he may have played his final home game at Madison Square Garden. "No, no, I don’t think about that. Not right now,” he said. “I can’t think about that. My mindset is just figuring out how we’re going to better this situation, how we’re going to continue to grow as a team, grow as an organization and not get used to going home this early in April."
But some in the Knicks organization believe Anthony may change his stance -- and look into his options on the trade market -- if the Knicks fail to add talent in free agency, league sources with knowledge of the situation said last month.
As Carmelo Anthony declared Saturday that he has shut down talk of his no-trade clause for the remainder of the season, the young player who has benefited greatly from the All-Star’s presence made a plea for him to stay with the franchise. “Obviously I want him to stay here. We need him. I need him,” Kristaps Porzingis told the Daily News. “And we don’t want to lose him.”
Ian Begley: Carmelo Anthony said tonight that he doesn't want to talk about his no-trade clause any more this year. Seems smart to shut that down, IMO.
"I know it's been hard on him," said Smith, whose Cavs also will visit the Garden on Saturday. "It's one of those situations when you're a great player in the league and you just don't have the support system, that cast that you've been accustomed to like when we were in Denver or the earlier years when he got to New York. I know it's been a frustrating process, but if anybody can get through it, it will be Melo. "And I know he absolutely wants to make it work here. This is everything he asked for, I mean, except for not making the playoffs and stuff like that. But everything he's doing for the city and for the Knicks, I think it's harder for him now more than anything. He doesn't have the whole supporting cast yet, but this year has been better than last year and I think they will continue to improve. And the way I know him, he's committed there, for sure."
If you’re looking for a path to making it happen, sure, theoretically it’s possible. And since James can be a free agent this summer, he could take that pay cut sooner than expected. The New York Daily News reported during the All-Star break the Cavs, Celtics and Knicks discussed a three-team deal that would send Kevin Love to Boston and bring Anthony to Cleveland. Those reports were quickly refuted, although one source with knowledge of the situation said this week James has indeed previously pitched the idea to Cavs management of somehow bringing Anthony to Cleveland. That would require Anthony waiving his no-trade clause.
If Anthony tells Garden Chairman James Dolan this summer that he's willing to waive his no-trade clause if the right deal comes along, the Knicks would placate their best player. However, Anthony seems to be committed to remaining in New York assuming the team makes significant upgrades over the summer.
“I know the reason why I stuck it out,’’ said CArmelo Anthony. “People that really understand it know why I’m sticking it out. It’s odd to question my loyalty at this point in time, especially when you showed and I’ve showed time and time again my loyalty to not just the organization, but New York and vice versa.”
Anthony has no regrets about some of the controversial things he’s said, including saying “the ball’s in their court,” regarding Phil Jackson upgrading the Knicks roster to his satisfaction during the offseason. “I don’t regret anything,’’ Anthony said. “[But] everything I say, it’s always drama.”
If Knicks president Phil Jackson craps out in free agency, the Bulls could be a team Anthony considers waiving his no-trade clause in order to join. “He was advocating for [Chicago],’’ said Anthony. “Boeheim always says that. I can’t control what that man says. Nobody can control what Boeheim says. He’s going to say what he wants to say.’’
Most conversations about the Knicks lately have centered around Carmelo Anthony’s uncertain future. Anthony made it clear last week that he wants the front office to make significant additions this summer. Some in the Knicks organization think Anthony might seek a trade if the front office fails to attract any talent in free agency, sources said. There is, of course, a vocal contingent of Knicks fans who would welcome Anthony’s exit.
Earlier Sunday, Karl was even more effusive in his praise of the 31-year-old. “I’ve seen a winning Melo over the last two years. I’ve seen him sacrifice his game to try to figure out the team,” Karl said after the Kings' shootaround. “I think he’s had a willingness to understand that he doesn’t have to force the game. The game will happen. And so many teams conceptually tilt the game to take Melo out. He understands ... that he’s got to make other people better.”
The verbal bouquets from coaches are probably nice to hear, but they don't resolve the frustration of another lost season in New York. Anthony wasn't available for comment Sunday, but you don't need another sound bite to know he's upset. Even Karl can see that from afar. “He doesn’t want the season to be over April 15,” Karl said. “I think Melo’s had a Hall of Fame career, and I just know right now, just kind of looking at his body language, he wants to win.”
Q: How much power do you have with [your] no-trade clause? Carmelo Anthony: “I guess I have all the power. If I really wanted to get out of this situation I could have waived that no-trade clause. But I’ve stuck with it and I’m still sticking with it. I don’t know, maybe my loyalty has come back to bite me in the ass. As of right now, I am sticking to it.”
Carmelo Anthony called his meeting in Denver with Knicks president Phil Jackson a “good conversation’’ in which he “got some answers I was looking for,’’ but ultimately indicated actions in July will be more important than words in March. In his first response to the revelation Jackson and Anthony had a pow-wow when the road trip began in Denver last week, Anthony said the Knicks’ offseason moves in free agency will decide how happy he is with his situation in New York, admitting, “We got to do something.’’ Barring a miracle, the Knicks (28-40) will miss the playoffs for a third straight season, leading to speculation Anthony ultimately could want to waive his no-trade clause and be moved to a contender if free agency doesn’t pan out.
“I thought it was a good conversation. I thought it was a good time for us to sit down and talk. It was more of just an open dialogue. Questions that I had. I won’t go into details about those questions. It was good for me to get it out there. Talk about it. Get his response and feedback. That was that,’’ said Anthony, whose mood has wavered the past two seasons amid questions about his commitment to the Jackson project.
“He wanted to meet,’’ Anthony said. “We thought this would be a good time to meet on the road in Denver, start of a road trip. I think you should want that as a player and whoever is the top decision-maker. If you don’t have that connection, a lot of things can get misconstrued, miscommunicated. You have to have a conversation and relationship with whoever’s making that decision.’’
Carmelo Anthony hasn’t had much to smile about professionally this season, but something that makes him chuckle is seeing his name linked to the Clippers, Cavaliers and other teams. “I laugh it off,” he said. “Just laugh it off. People always try to make scenarios, and situations, but nothing has happened.”
“My name is always associated with L.A.,” Anthony said after the Knicks’ 31-point win over the Suns on Wednesday night. “Whether it was early with the Lakers and now it’s the Clippers. I try not to pay attention to that.”
The consensus of a small, but representative group of NBA team execs and personnel types said there would be an interested, willing market for Anthony. But all state the obvious, that despite Anthony’s star status, the Knicks could not expect to fetch anything like the haul they surrendered for him five years ago. “There is a market. He’s still a star player. They could get a starter and a first-round draft pick and whatever else needed to make the salaries work,” one Eastern exec said.
The Celtics expressed interest in Carmelo Anthony before the trade deadline, according to an ESPN.com report. Two NBA sources told The Post that interest was not expressed to Knicks officials and no talks took place between the teams. Sources indicated the Celtics asked advisers of Carmelo Anthony if the Knicks star still was entrenched in not waiving his no-trade clause. The ESPN report stated it was still unclear if the Knicks and Celtics had trade talks but it was misrepresented elsewhere.
Anthony is represented by Creative Artists Agency, and indications are it wants Anthony to keep an open mind about his future. During the Knicks’ crash in December of last season’s 17-65 wreckage, The Post reported Anthony was having thoughts on waiving his no-trade clause if Knicks president Phil Jackson struck a deal to a contender. At the time, Leon Rose, Anthony’s CAA agent, said, “Carmelo, as always, is committed to the Knicks” and added the report is “utter nonsense.”
Knicks president Phil Jackson has taken pains since taking over to lessen the influence CAA has had on the organization in the past. Ex-Knicks Andrea Bargnani and J.R. Smith are both represented by CAA, which has not been welcomed with open arms by the new regime.
Carmelo Anthony: Ignore the noise. #Focused #StayMe7o https://www.instagram.com/p/BCOa1NdqNi4/
Carmelo Anthony denied that he blocked a potential blockbuster deal to the Boston Celtics last week, telling the Daily News that Knicks management never approached him about waiving his no-trade clause. "No," Anthony said late Wednesday in Indianapolis. "Heck no."
The News reported two weeks ago that the Celtics, Cavs and Knicks had engaged in preliminary discussions about a deal. Those talks never progressed, however, because Anthony had made it clear he did not want to be dealt. On Wednesday, ESPN reported that the Celtics were dealing directly with the Knicks about a trade for Anthony that would have included a first round pick that originally belonged to the Brooklyn Nets. It is believed that an additional draft pick as well David Lee's expiring contract and another player would have been included in the deal.
Adam Zagoria: Kris Porzingis on Melo and no-trade clause : 'I wouldn't want to lose him' #Knicks
Prior to the trade deadline, the Boston Celtics expressed interest in obtaining Anthony via a trade with the Knicks, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation.
It is unclear if there were any formal discussions between New York and Boston and if those discussions ever reached an advanced stage. But Boston was informed that Anthony had no desire to leave the Knicks via trade to play for the Celtics, sources say.
Anthony’s goal remains winning a championship with the Knicks. “One in New York is better than multiple somewhere else, so that was the reason I wanted to come to New York,” he said. “That’s the reason why I’m in New York, so it just bothers me when I started hearing all these trade rumors and trade talks. I don’t know where it comes from, so sometimes it gets to you as a player and you just get tired of hearing something all the time. I’m not on the run. I could have ran somewhere when I was a free agent (in 2014), you know what I’m saying? I came back for a reason. I came back because I wanted to do this.”
With the NBA trade deadline five days away, Carmelo Anthony reiterated that he has no plans to exercise his no-trade clause and leave the New York Knicks. "There's always some trade s--- going [on]," Anthony said Saturday during an interview on Sirius XM NBA Radio. "I'm not going anywhere."
Anthony chalked up the most recent rumors as part of playing in New York, the biggest media market in the NBA. "When you're in New York, you're always up for grabs, I'll tell you that. Trades are always up for grabs," Anthony said with a laugh. "It's always, 'Who's next?' There's nothing guaranteed when you're in New York. But I don't pay attention to those rumors."
Steve Kyler: There are people in Melo's world that would love to see him traded... he just won't agree to it. twitter.com/SmitsHappens/s…
The Daily News has learned that the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers have discussed a blockbuster trade centered around Kevin Love. There were very preliminary discussions about expanding the deal to include the Knicks and Anthony, who would have to waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a deal to the Cavs. The Knicks would receive draft picks and players in return. One of those players is believed to be Timofey Mozgov, who five years ago was traded by the Knicks to Denver in the Anthony deal.
Those talks have not progressed. Plus Anthony reiterated on Friday that he has no plans to seek a trade. However, when asked if he's thought about his future with a losing organization, Anthony gave a cryptic answer. “Not yet. I'm pretty sure I'll have that conversation with myself and my family and my team,” he said. “But it's not a conversation for right now.”
Cleveland makes the most sense because they are contending team and should be for as long as LeBron stays healthy. Two other possibilities are the Clippers and Celtics. Anthony owns a home in Los Angles and is close friends with All Star point guard Chris Paul. As for the Boston, the Knicks long time rivals have the assets that appeal to them. Celtics GM Danny Ainge has always been aggressive about adding a star and is intrigued by Anthony. For now, the Celtics are focused on Love, who signed an extension with the Cavs last summer.
Playing alongside his long-time friend LeBron obviously appeals to Anthony and would give him a chance at that elusive NBA title. But Anthony is committed to the Knicks and would prefer to keep his family in New York. During free agency two summers ago, Anthony said one reason for not signing elsewhere is that his son was comfortable living and going to school in New York. Anthony has also developed a close relationship with Garden chairman James Dolan, who traded for him in 2011 and signed him to a record $125 million contract in 2014.
“That doesn’t sit well with me,’’ Anthony said Friday during an All-Star Weekend press conference at a hotel in downtown Toronto. “To reflect a little about that, it’s tough. To think about that, to know that it can be three years if we don’t pick it up right away. I try not to think about it right now. In actuality, you have to start thinking about that eventually.’’
Carmelo Anthony could elect to waive his no-trade clause. But sources familiar with Anthony's thinking said last month he had no plans to waive the clause.
That’s why the possibility of moving Anthony via trade is something the Knicks should consider – but even that comes with complications they’ll be forced to navigate. Anthony’s no-trade clause means he’ll get the ability to approve any deal, automatically limiting the market for his services, and he also has a trade kicker that could come into play if the Knicks chose to move him in a trade this summer, when the salary cap is set to skyrocket, instead of moving him now.
It's an option Anthony should seriously consider. Phil Jackson's plan conflicts with Anthony's win-now plan. It always did. Kristaps Porzingis, the future of the franchise, is 20. Carmelo is 31 with 12 seasons under his belt and nearly 32,000 minutes on his legs. "Why not trade him now when you could get something for him?" said one opposing team executive. Anthony has a no-trade clause and has the right to veto any potential deal. And it may be difficult to convince Anthony to waive that provision especially since he loves playing for the Knicks and living in New York.
Carmelo Anthony has given no indication that he intends to uproot his career. But he also has a lot of pride and his ego has taken a hit the past few seasons
Still, the idea of trading Anthony is attractive in some corners of the Knicks' fan base. The idea, of course, is to begin a rebuild in earnest around Kristaps Porzingis. Depending on whom you ask around the league, New York might be able flip Anthony for a package of valuable draft picks or young talent.
Knicks sources were adamant that there have been zero conversations internally about trying to convince Anthony to consider a trade, and that as things stand the Knicks are pleased with where they are with Anthony and with the emergence of rookie Kristaps Porzingis. There is a growing sense that adding the right point guard either in trade or in free agency could turn the team in the direction they want to go and that’s competing in the playoffs and maybe competing for a championship.
Steve Kyler: Not sure why anyone mentions Carmelo -- he controls his future and he is not leaving New York this season. twitter.com/AjangAjeeSalkh…
Steve Kyler: Which completely ignores that Carmelo controls his situation... people talk like he is obtainable. He is not. twitter.com/X_Devinn_X/sta…
Even the one mega-trade that could hit the rumor mill — anything involving star forward Carmelo Anthony — has been far more smoke than fire. Ask round the league’s front offices and you’ll find that New York has not had substantive talks involving Anthony this year. That could change this summer, after the new TV money kicks in and Anthony’s mega-contract is pared down to three years and $80 million remaining, but there are no indications Anthony (who has a no-trade clause) will be traded before then.
One reason Jackson was willing to give Anthony a five-year deal worth $125 million two summers ago was that he understood that Anthony is well-liked around the league personally and could be used in recruiting free agents in the future. Despite speculation, Anthony remains part of the plan. The threat remains that this whole thing could get Dolan-ed in the end.
The team has never really thought about trading Anthony, Mills says. "Never," Mills says. "Period." (Let's just say some around the league are skeptical the topic has never come up in the MSG boardrooms). Even as Greg Monroe, LaMarcus Aldridge, and other stars rejected them last summer, the Knicks never lost faith in New York's gravitational pull, provided free agents can see at least some viable path to 50-plus wins.
Boston Celtics: A popular nominee among rival executives, since the Celtics could acquire Anthony, their alleged missing go-to guy, without hurting their current team. Even James Dolan would have to think about a package of David Lee, Brooklyn's unprotected 2016 first-round pick, and salary filler.
There is no evidence these teams have ever discussed a Melo deal, per league sources. Boston likely wants a better gauge on where Brooklyn's pick might end up, and Melo doesn't fit their developmental timeline -- or Brad Stevens' pass-happy style of play.
Ian Begley: Carmelo Anthony says "hell no" when asked if he thinks he'd get to a point where he'd ask for a trade this year. "I already came this far."
Indiana probably doesn’t want another “problem” personality, and the Pacers don’t have much beyond a lowball offer without attaching a first-rounder. Morris would open up the floor a bit in Washington. He’d eat into the Wizards’ Kevin Durant cap room, but they could move him in a pinch after the season. The Kings and Knicks should take a look, even though neither has movable assets that would interest Phoenix — unless the Knicks are ready to engage in Carmelo Anthony trade talks. (They’re not there, yet. But they’re getting closer.)
Q: The Knicks drafted Kristaps Porzingis, a guy who is a couple years away from being able to help you win night in and night out. Then there's Carmelo Anthony, who is 31 and here for another four years. How does he fit in because it seems like they are looking at a future that might not fit within his window? Walt Frazier: I'm sure Melo wasn't happy. His future is now. You know, he’s not getting younger. This is going to be a pivotal season for him to see really how he fits into the Knick plans and how this is going to go from here. Will he ask out, you know what I mean, if he sees that this is not happening? Because right now the Knicks, [it's] going to be tough to make the playoffs. They are a few years away and Melo knows that his days are numbered, so stay tuned.
