![Earlier, Carmelo Anthony had the Rockets and Cavaliers as his preferred trade destinations. [Image via Keith Allison/WikiCommons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/8/1/660x290/b_502x220x82/carmelo-anthony-wants-to-with-close-friend-chris-paul-and-james-harden-with-the-rockets-keith-allison-via-wikicommons_1481957.jpg "Earlier, Carmelo Anthony had the Rockets and Cavaliers as his preferred trade destinations. [Image via Keith Allison/WikiCommons]")
New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony has removed the Cleveland Cavaliers from the shortlist of preferred landing spots. Now, Anthony has set his mind on playing only for the Houston Rockets. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks and Anthony are at a stalemate as the superstar only wants to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Rockets and not the Cavaliers.
Earlier, Anthony had the Rockets and Cavaliers as his preferred trade destinations. Berman said the Cavaliers are not good enough for Anthony because they are in turmoil right now due to Kyrie Irving’s trade demand.
Irving surprised the basketball world when he approached Cavs team owner Dan Gilbert and asked for a trade, preferably to the Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat or Minnesota Timberwolves.
Knicks want to trade Anthony for Irving
The new Knicks management, composed of president of basketball operations Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry, said it would ship Anthony to the Rockets for a solid deal that will help the team’s future. It was reported that the Knicks plan to trade Anthony for Irving but nothing has materialized because of the veteran’s continued insistence that he wants to play for the Rockets. Irving, for his part, reportedly wants to play for the Knicks because it is close to his hometown of New Jersey.
The Portland Trail Blazers recently urged Anthony to include them in his preferred list of destination but the latter refused. The Knicks also called on Anthony to accept a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder but he never budged, insisting that he wants to play with close friend Chris Paul and last year’s MVP runner up James Harden.
Houston fails to entice Knicks to trade
The Rockets have made several offers to the Knicks for Anthony. First, they offered Ryan Anderson but the Knicks turned it down due to the remaining $61 million deal in the power forward’s contract. The Rockets then tried to arrange a four-team trade where they can get additional pieces to consummate the deal for Anthony.
However, the Knicks temporarily halted talks after they hired Perry as general manager.
The Knicks made the move to give Perry time to talk to Anthony and discuss his plan to reincorporate him into the team. However, Anthony maintained that he doesn’t want to play for the Knicks anymore and is set to join the Rockets. Now that they’re in a stalemate, Anthony might still wear the Knicks uniform next season.
