Photo Credit: Ximo Pierto Final
So there are three things here. 1. Everyone remembers the big hoopla with the Knicks seemingly trying to oust Carmelo Anthony, but in a meeting with president Phil Jackson, Anthony reaffirmed his commitment to the team. 2. LeBron James recently went on an expletive-filled tirade about the Cavaliers needing a playmaker. 3. LeBron and Carmelo are really close friends who want to play together at some point in their careers. So you put all that together and one would think sending Melo to the Cavs would be a go, but alas it is not.
According to ESPN, the Knicks have tried — unsuccessfully — to engage the Cavaliers in Carmelo Anthony-for-Kevin Love trade talks in advance of the league’s Feb. 23 trade deadline. Sources say Cleveland is not prepared to surrender Love to get Anthony after the role Love played in helping the Cavaliers win the first championship in franchise history in June.
Speaking Wednesday morning in Dallas after the Knicks’ morning shootaround, Anthony was asked if he thinks James’ recent comments — in which he challenged Cavaliers management to improve the roster — were aimed at convincing his bosses to trade for Anthony.”You ask me a question if he thinks I’d want to play with him?” Anthony told reporters. “Yes. I do think he’d want me to play with him. I don’t think he wouldn’t. But I don’t know if that comment was about me. I don’t think I’m the only playmaker in the NBA.”
Asked specifically about his theoretical willingness to play in Cleveland, Anthony said: “I don’t think about it — [that’s] not something I think about right now. As far as playing with him, I don’t think about that. I can’t think about that. You know I’m not thinking about that.”
Anthony, 32, is earning $24.6 million this season and has two years left on his Knicks contract worth nearly $54 million. The last year of the deal is at Anthony’s option in 2018-19 and the contract contains a 15 percent trade kicker that would hike his current salary into the $29 million range if he’s dealt.
Love, 28, is earning $21.2 million this season and has three seasons remaining on his current contract after this year, worth in excess of $72 million. The 2019-20 season, when he is scheduled to earn $25,595,700, is at Love’s option.
