Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Knicks are halting trade talks with Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks have reportedly hired Scott Perry as the team's General Manager which will slow the talks down. This hire is a huge blow for the Rockets pursuit of Anthony. The Rockets gained traction over the Cavaliers when Anthony was rumored to be concerned about LeBron James leaving Cleveland.
Perry wants to meet with Anthony
The Knicks want Anthony to meet with the new front office and coach Jeff Hornacek. It's unclear how persuasive the Knicks will be in convincing Anthony to be apart of the future.
It was reported that Anthony was eager to waive his no-trade clause for Houston. Anthony had been focused on getting a deal done so that he could go play with Chris Paul and James Harden.
Perry's arrival will delay the trade negotiations, but who knows for how long. President, Steve Mills, has been adamant about making the Knicks more younger and athletic. Anthony is 34 years old, and likely not part of the Knicks future plans.
Huge blow to Rockets
The Rockets have been looking for a third and fourth team to facilitate this trade with the Knicks. It's not a secret that the Rockets want to create a "Big 3" of Anthony, Paul, and Harden to compete with the Golden State Warriors. Anthony and Paul are very close friends.
Harden was the MVP runner-up. It seemed like the perfect scenario.
However, if Perry were to get Mills to reconsider, then this would be a blow to the Rockets and the Knicks. The Knicks have a chance to swing a deal to bring in some younger players to help reshape the future of the Knicks. The Knicks have been linked to Maurice Harkless and Meyers Leonard.
A rebuild could be on the horizon as the team has missed the playoffs the last four seasons.
How to speed up talks
This makes the Rockets search in finding a third and/or fourth team to complete this trade even more essential. The Knicks paused the talks for a reason which means the Rockets will have to make this offer something they cannot refuse.
That starts with a team taking on Ryan Anderson's contract. The Rockets have not found a lot of luck with a team wanting to take on the contract even though the Portland Trail Blazers have been rumored as a possible suitor.
The Rockets need Anthony to contend in overthrowing the Warriors. The Knicks new management does not mean that they will not make a trade. It just means the Rockets are going to have to work a lot harder in sweetening the deal. Regardless, if Anthony is not moved this summer, everyone in this scenario loses.
