Carmelo Anthony (Photo : Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors every season will not be complete without Carmelo Anthony joining the mix.
Anthony is another year older and his trade value diminishes with every year. His chances of winning a championship during his tenure with the New York Knicks are also slipping away despite the presence of Kristaps Porzingis.
Has Anthony lost faith in the Knicks? Every year, the Knicks fans get their hopes up and eventually get disappointed. Now, the Knicks have lost 9 of their last 10 games.
A panel of hoop scribed from ESPN Insider has sat down to suggest a course of action for the Knicks. Bradford Doolittle would push for trading Carmelo Anthony, but he is one of the few players in the league who controls their fate via a "no-trade" clause.
"I suspect Phil Jackson won't aggressively shop him, and I don't see Anthony waiving his no-trade clause, in part because I just don't know how badly Anthony really wants to win a title at this point. I'm sure he does, but it has to come in New York, and it has to happen because of him, which limits the possibilities," Doolittle stated.
It was also suggested that Anthony would agree to a trade if it was an opportunity to play with his "banana boat" squad. That includes Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and LeBron James.
Still, the decision is in Melo's hands, and according to the NY Daily News, it's unlikely he would waive his privilege, even if it's a chance to join a contender.
On those two issues, Melo's pal Dwyane Wade of the Chicago Bulls offers his thoughts.
"He loves it here. He loves being here. His family loves it here. And he wants to win here," Wade said. "He's going to be here as long as they want him here - win, lose or draw."
The "contender" in question is probably the Cleveland Cavaliers, where LeBron James is calling the shots. It could also be the venue for the banana boat reunion, but Wade also reveals whether they actually tell Melo to call a trade so they can play together.
"That's not our role or our job. A man makes a decision," Wade said. "If he gets to that point in his career where he can't do it here and he wants to do that, then that's on him. That's a decision that he'll make. ... We support him in whatever decision he wants to make for his career. And like I said, right now, his goal is eventually to do it here. But whatever happens, happens," Wade stated.
So there's no superteam plot for now. Perhaps when Carmelo's contract expires and he signs cheap as a title-chaser, then he could join his comrades.
