The New York Knicks entire 2016-17 NBA season was a state of turmoil and much of it centered on the relationship between team president Phil Jackson and superstar Carmelo Anthony. Jackson wanted Carmelo gone but Anthony has a no-trade clause and refused to waive it. Jackson made disparaging comments and threw out plenty of insults to try to force the issue but Carmelo never gave in.
Now, Phil Jackson is gone and the New York Knicks might not trade Carmelo Anthony at all. Here are the latest Knicks rumors concerning the fate of Anthony.
The Houston Rockets
After the New York Knicks agreed to the release of President Phil Jackson, acting general manager Steve Mills made a huge move by bringing Tim Hardaway Jr. back to New York with a very large four-year, $70.9 million contract with a player option in 2020. Since Hardaway and Anthony play the same position, it seemed to look like the Knicks were going to trade their star anyway.
The trade partner was the Houston Rockets. Carmelo Anthony still holds his no-trade clause and said the only teams he would release that for were the Cleveland Cavaliers to play with LeBron James or the Houston Rockets to play with Chris Paul and James Harden. Houston is who wanted Anthony the most.
The best thing is that Carmelo Anthony was finally tired of the trade rumors and was willing to finally give in and waive his no-trade clause for the trade to the Rockets.
ESPN reports that close friends of Anthony said he is ready to leave the New York Knicks and go to the Houston Rockets.
The trade is on hold for now
Just when it seemed that Carmelo Anthony was finally ready to let go and leave the New York Knicks, the team has put on the brakes. ESPN reported that they informed both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets that they are going to hold off on trading Anthony for a short time.
Despite talking to the Rockets and Cavaliers, the Knicks reportedly want to consider reincorporating Carmelo back into the organization and Hardaway came out and publicly said that the two of them could be on the floor at the same time and be potent.
Part of the reason that the New York Knicks want to wait on trading Carmelo Anthony is that they are in final negotiations to hire Scott Perry away from the Sacramento Kings to become their new general manager. The Knicks want to have Anthony meet Perry and head coach Jeff Hornacek to see if the two sides might finally consider mending fences.
