Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving (Photo : Twitter)
The New York Knicks seem stuck with Carmelo Anthony and they still need a point guard.
Anthony has a no-trade clause in his contract and the Knicks could not trade him even if they wanted to. The only way they can move him is for him to agree with the trade terms.
That's almost Mission Impossible as Carmelo repeatedly said that he likes it in New York. It seemed clear to him that he had a better chance to win in places like Chicago or even Houston but he still chose to remain in New York. The prospect of winning was not enough for him to leave the Big Apple, but also the money factor and the security of a fifth year on his contract.
However, he might change his mind if it's LeBron James enticing him. Carmelo has changed his tune with regards to the "superteam" that the King envisioned. His comments on the NY Post after the Knicks-Bulls game were casual.
"We still got years in this league. Everybody dreams sometimes. Everybody has fantasies. We'd all have to take pay cuts. I'd take one. I think at that time we'd want to go someplace warm. Later - [close to] retirement," Anthony responded.
Melo took a more cautious tone when asked about it again before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans, as John Reid of NOLA quoted. ''I don't want to talk about that no more this season.'' Reid notes that Melo talked more about his alma mater Syracuse making the Final Four.
Perhaps it's because Anthony realized that the media is taking it seriously, or it could be that it's more than a pipe dream for him and they've already talked about it.
What if they can start phase one: Uniting Carmelo Anthony with LeBron James. This time, it would be Kyrie Irving and not Kevin Love as the bait?
The New York Knicks need a point guard and Kyrie Irving is an All-Star, and his actual hometown is in New Jersey. Irving would fit well in the triangle as Fansided notes.
"He does seem like the type of ball handler that could thrive running the Triangle Offense under interim head coach Kurt Rambis under Phil Jackson's watch. Irving does play with a flash at the point that seems reminiscent to that of other Knicks' greats."
Trading off Carmelo and taking Kyrie Irving instead of Kevin Love will give Kristaps Porzingis more room to grow. Also, Kyrie is just 24 and with Porzingis at 20, the discrepancy is narrow.
Carmelo will miss the playoffs for the third straight year, something that won't happen if he joins LeBron in Cleveland. James and Kyrie are reportedly not getting along, so this is a real possibility if the Cavs don't win the title.
