The NBA trade scenarios continue to emerge as the season is about to close. Many teams like the New York Knicks are looking ahead.
The Knicks are reportedly shutting down their star rookie Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony has missed a game because of "rest." The Knicks do not have a draft pick so there's no reason to tank, but they're out of the playoffs so the wins don't matter as well.
Carmelo Anthony wants to spearhead the free agent recruitment drive for the Knicks because if they miss out on free agents, there isn't room for them to improve as they don't have draft picks. Melo trade rumors have continuously emerged often with the Knicks as the beneficiary.
However, Carmelo Anthony is not washed up at all. As Hoops Habit points out, he can still help a contending team and it can also add merit for his career if he waives his no-trade clause and hops off to a contender. Why not the Cleveland Cavaliers?
It's a matter of fit. The Cavs took in Kevin Love believing he was the key to their title hopes. Even Love thought it was a good idea, shedding off his alpha dog status in Minnesota. Hoops Habit writer Jamyson Frierson laments that this is not really happening and both the player and the team have struggled.
"While he is scoring better and getting double-doubles, he just has not been impactful or consistent," Frierson noted. "He'll get 16 points, but it's on 8-of-25 shooting or 4-of-14 from three-point range. He just hasn't been a player that the Cavaliers can rely on if Kyrie Irving or LeBron James has a bad night, or even worse, don't play."
It's been two seasons since Love's stats dwindled from his Timberwolves stint. There are still some teams who believe he can still deliver primetime numbers but as long as he doesn't, his trade value diminishes.
So why would Carmelo Anthony perform better under the circumstances were Love faltered? Anthony is hungry for success and his age gives him a sense of urgency.
The Washington Post writer Tim Bontemps has presented this clearly. "Yes, Anthony has enjoyed being a star in New York. But he's clearly grown tired of losing, and with the explosion in cap space this summer, teams will be interested in making a run at him. And, from the Knicks' perspective, rebuilding the team around Kristaps Porzingis and draft picks makes lots of sense."
Bontemps also pointed out that Anthony may have miscalculated his capacity to carry a team, or the Knicks' allure toward free agents. He forced a trade to New York which decimated the Knicks. He could have waited for free agency. Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and even Timofey Mozgov would have been helpful if Carmelo played with them.
With the Knicks' anticipated foray into free agency, their big catch was Robin Lopez. This is not what Carmelo anticipated and he's even giving ultimatums to their front office.
The Knicks may be in a dead end at this point and they may have to change directions. To do so, Carmelo Anthony needs to chase a title with his best buddy instead of just basking in the marquee of Madison Square Garden.