According to the latest NBA trade rumors, Carmelo Anthony could be on the move soon. Here’s a look at 10 potential trades that might work for all parties.
When the New York Knicks traded for Carmelo Anthony in 2011, they had dreams of pairing him with Amar’e Stoudemire to build a championship roster. Fast forward six years, and the Knicks have failed to get past the second round as NBA trade rumors swirl around their star player.
Melo will probably always be an underrated superstar in NBA history, with his incredible scoring prowess always being shadowed by his lack of team success — especially compared to his rival from the same draft, LeBron James.
Case in point: The Knicks are just 20-27 this season, good for 11th in the East. With another $26.2 million on his contract for next season, plus a $27.9 million player option for 2018-19, Melo is seen as a hindrance that’s holding back New York’s rebuild centered around Kristaps Porzingis.
Anthony has said over and over that he wants to stay in the Big Apple, but has recently pivoted his position, saying if the Knicks are heading for a rebuild, he’d be open to waiving his no-trade clause. That stipulation gives him the power to veto a trade to any team he doesn’t want to play for, but it feels like this tumultuous relationship is nearing its end.
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Melo and team president Phil Jackson have already clashed numerous times, which is why it’s not surprising to hear ESPN reporting that the Knicks have reached out to the Cleveland Cavaliers about a trade. The Vertical also reported that New York contacted the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics.
Working out a trade for Carmelo Anthony is no easy task. While he can still put the ball in the basket, he’s on a massive contract, he’s 32 years old and he has the power to veto any trade he doesn’t like.
But even at age 32, Anthony is averaging 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 37.2 percent shooting from three-point range. He still has value, so in the interest of being thorough, here’s a look at some potential Carmelo Anthony trades, why they would work, and why they may ultimately fall through.