New York Knicks: 5 potential Carmelo Anthony trades

4. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers may seem a stretch considering they have posted a 75-253 record over the last four seasons. However, there are a couple of factors working in their favor.

First, being situated in the Eastern Conference makes the Sixers more attractive by default in comparison to the expected blood bath that will take place in the loaded Western Conference. Secondly, the recent signing by the Sixers of fellow veteran J.J. Redick is a sure sign that they are on the cusp of something special.

Redick and fellow veteran free agent Amir Johnson wouldn’t have jumped aboard the Sixers train if they weren’t confident in “Trusting the Process.” As Redick noted following his recent signing:

"“I really believe this is a team that over the next three or four years will become the best team in the East. I hope I’m sort of part of that rise just beyond this year because I think we can be a playoff team and I think in the next two or three years we can contend for conference championships and hopefully at some point NBA championships.”"

While it’s certainly high praise, it’s hard to think that such sentiments wouldn’t garner Anthony’s attention. And the fact that both Redick and Johnson have left 50-win teams from last season should make it even the more encouraging to get Anthony thinking that Philadelphia is the place to be.

The proposed deal sees the Knicks receiving an elite defensive wing in Robert Covington, and a promising potential frontcourt partner for Kristaps Porzingis in Jahlil Okafor. They’d also get Jerryd Bayless for salary-matching purposes.

For the Sixers, a starting lineup of Markelle Fultz, Redick, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Anthony is simply tantalizing. And it could just be appealing enough for Anthony to retrain his line of thinking.