Carmelo Anthony (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors once again swivel towards the Big Apple as new alliances could be forged on the All-Star break.
Carmelo Anthony remains with the Knicks in a very awkward situation. It has been blatantly expressed that the front office, specifically Phil Jackson wants him out. The former Syracuse standout has a no-trade clause which is now the only reason he is still with the team. Jackson continues his social media tirade, seemingly to coerce Anthony to waive his no-trade clause and the situation is getting embarrassing, to say the least.
There are three sides to end this saga. The Knicks must find a suitable trade partner, that team should agree to a trade and Anthony must waive his no-trade clause. In this scenario, the Knicks are clearly the side with the disadvantage no matter what posturing Jackson takes to make it appear otherwise.
So the suggestion from Jason Keidel of CBS New York, "the Knicks owe Anthony a serious solid." They note that the Knicks are still listed as the most valuable franchise despite their losses and disarray. Despite Jim Dolan's management (or lack thereof). Thus, they really don't have much to lose if they trade off their star.
There's no way the Knicks can get a star back for Anthony. The Kevin Love aspirations were a long shot then and impossible now as "the Knicks have such a stench of desperation that no one seems interested in dealing for Anthony for anything more than scraps. If scraps are what it takes, then make it so."
Anthony could always refuse any trade so it's up to the Knicks to choose a team for him and take whatever they give, "scraps" or not. Lucky for them, the Clippers are still interested. In a piece by Marc Berman of the NY Post, some of the All Stars had praise for Melo.
"Anytime you get a chance to get a player like Carmelo, it is really cool,'' De Andre Jordan said. "I played with Carmelo this summer. Great teammate, great basketball player, playmaker, scorer. I think [he would fit in]. Playing with him this summer, I think he's a great teammate. Anybody would be lucky to have him.''
Chris Paul is Anthony's close friend off the court. "Melo is like my brother," Paul said. "Anything affecting him at times, it can affect me."
The Clippers are strapped with their cap space. They have to get creative but their resolve not to give up any of the Big Three remains strong. The Knicks will have to respect that. If it's just Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers, Jackson's posturing has already placed them in a position without leverage.
Anthony has learned his lesson with the Knicks team that he arrived at-decimated by the trade. They lost Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton and draft picks. He would rather join a Clippers strong Clippers team than a weak one.
Jackson is the loser here and the Knicks have to accept the pennies, as it's better than nothing.
