The NBA trade rumors continue as they focus on trades likely to happen in the summer and Carmelo Anthony leaving New York is as close to a foregone conclusion as any.
Anthony and team president Phil Jackson traded shots at each other in the media and who knows what else happened behind closed doors. The relationship is scarred, to say the least and now there seems to be no other way. He talked to the NY Post with a tone accepting the inevitable.
"I see the writing on the wall,'' Anthony said. "I see what they're trying to do. It's me accepting that. I think that's what puts me at peace: Me knowing and understanding how things work. ''
The Post also stated that "Anthony has a no-trade clause but keeps giving hints he's close to waiving it."
Phil Jackson has been very vocal on his criticism towards Anthony and many perceived that as his way of trying to persuade Anthony to waive his no-trade clause despite his clear desire to stay in New York. It seems like the Zen Master has succeeded.
What may have broken the camel's (or Anthony's) back is his "new role" on the team where he is not allowed to take too many shots. Carmelo has been a scorer his entire career-one of the best in the league.
"It's difficult. It's hard to change a player's game in the ninth inning. I am who I am. I got here all these years playing the way I've been playing. It's hard to take that step back. It's challenging. I think it's for the greater good of everybody on this team."
Despite all this, Anthony still retains his prerogative and the Knicks will have to try and deal him to a team where he's willing to play. While it seems that the deal with the Clippers is the obvious choice, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders has a word of restraint.
"The Clippers may still make the most sense for a Carmelo Anthony trade, but before we all go spending Steve Ballmer's money, it should at least be acknowledged that an Anthony acquisition, especially for a team that will be focused on re-signing its own top three free agents, might be a very expensive (and risky) proposition."
Hamilton noted that even if the Clippers retain both Blake Griffin and Chris Paul as well as acquire Anthony, there's no guarantee that the team can beat the San Antonio Spurs or Golden State Warriors whose rosters are likely to stay intact.
