Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: NBA Draft Holds Promise For New York Knicks, Could It Speed Up Anthony Trade?
Carmelo Anthony trade rumors are expected to increase in number as the 2017 NBA Draft approaches. New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson wants to deal Anthony and bringing back several draft picks could be a way for the franchise to finally enter an official rebuilding process. While Knicks fans would likely be unhappy if Anthony gets dealt for just draft picks, the long-term outlook for the franchise would likely improve almost immediately.
Carmelo Anthony’s contract still has two years left on it, with the second season serving as a player option that could let him escape New York. Anthony will make a little more than $26.2 million during the 2017-18 NBA season and then roughly $28 million the following year if he decides to exercise his player option. Since the deal isn’t in place for a long period of time, it could also be easier for another franchise to absorb during an offseason trade.
There had been a number of Carmelo Anthony trade rumors linking him to the Los Angeles Clippers, as he is friends with Chris Paul and could become the starting small forward for a good roster. The problem is that the Clippers have no young players and no picks in the 2017 NBA Draft to offer Jackson and the Knicks. If the Knicks were looking to simply dump Anthony, then this deal could be more likely, but there has been no indication of that scenario playing out.
“@nytimes: The @CarmeloAnthony era in NY might be over. Phil Jackson said he’d “be better off somewhere else.” https://t.co/AvSUGxOymG”
— Tony Gray (@ABGray) April 14, 2017
A recent report by the New York Post provided quotes from Knicks legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, who stated that Jackson simply hasn’t given Anthony the right pieces to play with. It’s an opinion shared by many NBA analysts and fans, leading to stories that Jackson might get fired for his lack of success as team president.
“I thought this team was going to be pretty good with Derrick Rose coming in and Courtney Lee, though I’m not sure he’s a starting guard. But there was no chemistry, not even in the locker room. And Melo, he has done what he was brought here to do. Phil needed to put people around him that do what he doesn’t do. That’s up to management. Melo played up to his strengths and he played up to his weaknesses. He’s always been that player. You need to augment him with the right other pieces.”
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the New York Knicks have the No. 8 selection in the 2017 NBA Draft and have been linked to Kentucky guard Malik Monk. He is the type of player who could put people in the seats at Madison Square Garden and possibly play very well with big man Kristaps Porzingis. If a Carmelo Anthony trade were to take place, it would open up the floor for Monk to shine on offense, giving fans of the team hope for the future of the franchise.
Knicks #Rumors: NBA Executive Says Malik Monk Should Run Point https://t.co/mGbPYIxvpK via @dailyknicksFS pic.twitter.com/0jRgCTxVUI
— FanSided NBA (@FanSidedNBA) May 21, 2017
Even with all the NBA trade rumors that suggest Jackson could deal Anthony before the draft, the power still belongs to the All-Star forward. Anthony’s contract contains a full no-trade clause, giving him the ability to veto any deal that the front office works out. This has been a problem for Jackson, as it requires him to check in with his star player before actually pulling the trigger on a deal with another team. Anthony can decide to simply stay in New York or make a demand that the team deals him to a city of his choice.
No matter how much bad press Anthony receives or how many negative comments Phil Jackson has made about him to the media, Anthony has yet to make a trade demand from the front office. He has quietly fulfilled the contract extension he signed with the New York Knicks and continues to be a star in the league. If he is ready to go to a contender and make a run at an NBA title, then there are going to be even more Carmelo Anthony trade rumors, especially if the Cleveland Cavaliers decide to take a page out of the Golden State Warriors’ playbook.
[Featured Image by Elsa/Getty Images]
