Carmelo Anthony shouldn't expect the Knicks to rebuild and win at the same time (Photo : REUTERS)
Carmelo Anthony is clearly not happy camper right now with the direction the New York Knicks are heading to. Feeling betrayed that his team never actually gave him the supporting casts they promised to deliver this offseason in order for him to contend for his first NBA championship, Melo might be a goner in New York before the season even starts. Bleacher Report NBA Sr. writer Ric Bucher believed so.
According to Bucher, Anthony's era at Madison Square Garden might soon come to an end as the Knicks appear to be embracing a rebuilding mode with the selection of Kriztaps Porzingis as the no.4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Sources close to Anthony revealed the player's disappointment on the decisions made by Knicks president of basketball operations Phil Jackson.
While the Knicks added veterans like Robin Lopez, Aaron Afflalo, Derrick Williams, the caliber of their roster still pales in comparison to other contenders at least in the Eastern Conference like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and even the Washington Wizards.
Bucher pointed out that Anthony, although he hasn't asked formally, would not want to be part of a long rebuild at this point of his career, and thus might seek a way out of the Big Apple.
Although the Knicks aren't going to honor Melo's 'trade request' right away without seeing him play with their new acquisitions, Anthony will still hit the trade market at the trade deadline eventually. The Knicks are good to contend for a lower playoff seed in the East, but don't have the firepower to overwhelm the big wigs in the conference.
The Knicks don't have much option if they trade their franchise player largely because of Melo's massive contract. Aside from the salary cap-rich Portland Trail Blazers and the Philadelphia 76ers, star-hungry big market franchises like the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers will likely make a strong push for the disgruntled star.
The Celtics have an arsenal of young players and draft picks to woe the Knicks top-brass. On the other hand, the Lakers could throw in future draft picks, a young stud Julius Randle and one of their two budding playmakers in D'Angelo Russell / Jordan Clarkson to acquire Anthony, who will likely be next in line to succeed Kobe Bryant as the team's main star.
