New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony is hoping that he will be traded to the Houston Rockets before training camp starts. According to Frank Isola of New York Daily News, Anthony’s camp is cautiously optimistic that the deal to the Rockets will happen before Monday. Isola said Anthony’s wife, La La, was expecting that the trade would happen two weeks ago but the Knicks and the Rockets failed to reach an agreement. "Mentally, Carmelo and his family have moved on to Houston. Reality is another story,” said Isola. The Knicks are in a bind because Anthony only wants to waive his no-trade clause only for the Rockets, where he will join close friend Chris Paul and last season’s MVP runner-up, James Harden.
If no deal happens, Anthony has no other choice but to join the Knicks’ training camp next week. The Rockets tried offering power forward Ryan Anderson to the Knicks for Anthony in a one-on-one straight up trade. However, the Knicks rejected the offer as they don’t want to be saddled with the remaining three years in Anderson’s contract. Also, Anderson’s style of play will conflict with Kristaps Porzingis, who is known as an outside threat rather than his play in the shaded lane.
Anthony not part of Knicks’ long-term plan
The Knicks, for their part, are also anticipating a divorce from Anthony as they did not include him in their long-term plan to restore the franchise to its old glory. In his message on the Official MSG Blog entitled "Reshaping The Knicks: Agility Plus Intuition Required,” general manager Scott Perry did not include Anthony’s name in his future plans for the franchise.
Perry wrote that reshaping the Knicks as a championship contender will be a step-by-step process that will demand patience as they have to wait for their young core -- Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Willy Hernangomez, Frank Ntilikina and Ron Baker -- to mature. Last month, Knicks president Steve Mills did not mention Anthony in his own post regarding the team’s "fresh vision" on how to return to the playoffs after four years of absence.
Porzingis to benefit from Anthony
According to Ian Begley of ESPN, Porzingis could benefit and learn from Anthony if he stays for one more season with the Knicks. Begley said it was the perception of almost everyone in the NBA, saying that Anthony will help develop and turn Porzingis into the player that the Knicks want him to be.
Anthony has two years remaining from his five-year, $124-million deal with the Knicks. After the coming season, where he stands to earn $26.2 million, Anthony can opt out from the Knicks and become a free agent.
