Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: New York Knicks Close To Trade Of All-Star?

Carmelo Anthony trade rumors may get New York Knicks fans very nervous. These Anthony trade rumors come as Phil Jackson attempts to repair a Knicks franchise that is trying to make its way back to the NBA Playoffs. A report from CBS Sports states that the team is “getting closer” to officially engaging other teams in Melo trade talks. It’s a turn of events that could certainly reshape the way the franchise looks for years to come.

An Anthony trade could certainly bring back a number of assets, much in the way that the Denver Nuggets stocked up with young players by trading him to the Knicks. In that deal, the Nuggets acquired Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, cash, a 2012 second-round draft pick (Quincy Miller was later selected), a 2013 second-round draft pick (Romero Osby was later selected) and a 2014 first-round draft pick. It was a huge deal for both franchises at the time, but it allowed Denver to rebuild in a short amount of time.

These Carmelo Anthony trade rumors certainly make sense if the plan is for Phil Jackson to completely rebuild the New York Knicks over the next NBA season. Anthony is locked up through the 2017-18 NBA season, with a player option in place for the 2018-19 season as well. That’s at least three more years left on his deal, with a fourth year potentially there if Anthony likes his new situation. That could serve as a big selling point to any team looking to add a superstar player.

There is a lot in play when considering whether Jackson will really start shopping Anthony, and it begins with how confident he is that the Knicks can land another free agent star player during the next NBA offseason. The Knicks will have the money to do it, but it all comes down to whether the situation in New York is enticing enough to convince someone like Kevin Durant to take the risk. If Jackson isn’t confident in that scenario, dealing Anthony for several young players and draft picks could be a reasonable solution.

So could the trade talks begin very soon? The Phoenix Suns seem like a franchise looking to add a star player with the hopes of pursuing another one in the next offseason. Could the Suns offer a package that would entice Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks to pull the trigger? A slow start to the 2015-16 NBA season might lead to quite a few Carmelo Anthony trade rumors, with a small window for the franchise to really cash in on a deal.

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