Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni is not completely on board about acquiring Carmelo Anthony from the New York Knicks because of their past differences. However, D’Antoni would be willing to forget their controversial past to help the Rockets in their mission to dethrone the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.
Recently, D’Antoni admitted in an interview with ESPN that he resigned as coach of the Knicks in 2012 when Anthony issued a “me or him” ultimatum to the New York front office. The resignation happened just one year after Anthony was traded by the Denver Nuggets to the Knicks in 2011.
D’Antoni went 121-167 during his stint as Knicks coach.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, D’Antoni had no choice but to agree with the trade after James Harden and Chris Paul lobbied for the move. Rockets center Nene was also on board with the decision to get Anthony.
Pelicans involved in Anthony trade
The Rockets added third and fourth teams into the negotiations because they lack tradeable pieces they can ship to the Knicks for Anthony. Berman reported that the New Orleans Pelicans have entered into the Rockets-Knicks negotiations for Anthony. It was unclear if the Pelicans will receive Ryan Anderson and his three-year, $61 million contracts from the Rockets or other players from the Knicks or from the fourth team.
The Rockets traded key players Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker and a top-3 protected 2018 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul, leaving them without any tradable piece for Anthony. initially, the Rockets offered Anderson for Anthony but the Knicks rejected it.
Anthony wants to get deal done this week
Anthony’s representatives said the All-Star forward wants to get a deal reached this week. However, Berman said it will be impossible for the negotiations to be completed before Friday’s press conference where Paul will be introduced as the newest member of the Rockets. Multiple sources informed Berman that negotiations may continue until next week because several things need to be ironed out first.
Knicks acting president Steve Mills, for his part, is determined to seal the deal that he temporarily shelved the search for a veteran point guard. There is also a possibility that the Knicks may fill the position through the Anthony deal. Earlier, the Knicks signed young point guard Ron Baker to a two-year, $8.9 million deal with a player option for a second year.
