Derrick Rose (Photo : Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks is a franchise in intense turmoil on and off the court and the latest in NBA trade rumors has them trading other players aside from Carmelo Anthony.
For Phil Jackson, the pesky no-trade clause that he offered their star has come back to haunt him and he may have to be content with trading other players in his cupboard.
Why should the Knicks mount a fire sale? Al Iannazzone of Newsday contends that the recent spate of events in Madison Square Garden will jeopardize any attempt of the Knicks to sign free agents-let alone that top names, this summer.
"I think that should always be in the back of people's minds," Anthony said.
Even before all this, the top free agents weren't coming: Kevin Durant wouldn't meet with the Knicks last summer, LaMarcus Aldridge canceled his meeting with them the year before and LeBron James never really has considered them when he's been a free agent."
There are some quarters that point to Phil Jackson, the Knicks' team president, as the "cancer" of the team because of his feud with Carmelo Anthony. Usually, in a stalemate between an executive and a star player, the player would win. However, in this case, the scenario could be different.
"Knicks owner James Dolan said Friday on ESPN Radio that he will honor Jackson's five-year deal, so he's not going anywhere unless he decides to opt out after this season. Dolan said he doesn't anticipate Jackson opting out."
Thus, Iannazzone suggested that Jackson and his staff make themselves useful.
"That said, Jackson and general manager Steve Mills should spend more time finding trades for Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings and Kyle O'Quinn than Anthony, who can veto any deal."
The future of the Knicks is Kristaps Porzingis and they also have cheap young talent in Willy Hernangomez. Sadly, Joakim Noah may be untradeable as he is in the first year of a four-year, $72-million contract. Unless he plays up to that value, the Knicks are stuck with him.
The key here is that Rose and Jennings are impending free agents. If they could get any decent offer elsewhere, they might want to release the baggage of the Knicks drama.
Derrick Rose seems open to it, as he shared with Marc Berman in the NY Post: "Rebuild - you heard that?'' Rose said. "I'm on a one-year deal. I can't talk that much about it. The rebuild could be me going, too."
Rose has had the best season since his MVP year. He's unlikely to get a max contract, but he said he will definitely shoot for it. All it takes is one offer from any of the NBA's 30 teams. It could even be the Knicks, actually.
