New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony ready to waive no-trade clause

The New York Knicks may be parting ways with the other half of last year’s biggest distraction. Carmelo Anthony seems ready to play elsewhere next season.

It almost seemed like a high chance that Carmelo Anthony would remain a member of the New York Knicks after team president Phil Jackson parted ways with the franchise last week. Those thoughts of rebuilding with Carmelo still in the fold may have taken their last breath as a report surfaced early Monday morning that the multiple time Olympic gold medalist is ready to waive his no-trade clause.

The infamous battle between Jackson and Anthony over the past year had sparked so much outrage around the league. The obvious pushing of Anthony to leave New York was the big mission on Jackson’s’ agenda using social media, press conferences and meetings to try to sway him into waiving his no-trade clause. In the end Jackson was let go and Anthony did not budge under the pressure to be pushed out once again with the power to control his own destiny.

According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Anthony is strongly considering accepting a deal to either the Houston Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers. Both teams are instant playoff contenders and could be missing a player like Anthony to put them over the top in their perspective conferences. The other key element besides winning a NBA championship that may lure the 10-time NBA All-Star is the fascination to play with his good friends in the league such as LeBron James in Cleveland and Chris Paul now in Houston.

The major issues regarding both situations coming to fruition revolve around chemistry and strained relationships. A deal with the Cavaliers will require some movement on the roster to accommodate Anthony’s contract that has two years and $54 million guaranteed left on it and a trade bonus that could pay him an extra $8.1 million upon a deal.

The sour relationship between Anthony and former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni could play a role in the Rockets’ decision to pursue a deal. This season’s NBA Coach of the Year was very candid about his toxic relationship with Anthony dating back to an ultimatum claim during the 2012 season. D’Antoni said in a interview with The Vertical his problems were with trying to get Anthony to play a certain way to help the team.

"“So now it’s like, what are we going to do? We could see how to go and I didn’t know how to get there and with losing again and you’re trying to prod them and you’re trying to tell ‘em to play harder and all the coach’s speak and communication just like deteriorated, (Carmelo and I) don’t have a bad relationship. I speak to him. He’s a good guy, But I had one vision that I wanted him to play one way. He wanted to go the other way. I couldn’t get to my way.”"

Another possible clue to Anthony’s rumored desire to waive his no-trade clause is from a statement made last night by his wife La La Anthony on the Bravo show Watch What Happen’s Live. The actress spoke about the couple’s rumored relationship issues and the high likelihood of Anthony remaining with the Knicks.

At this point it’s just a rumor and the world will continue to wait on which team will make the desperate move to acquire Anthony.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

New York must be wise to take full advantage and acquire draft picks and impact players to refresh the franchise.