![Jabari Parker was almost traded to the Knicks last offseason. – [image credit: Ximo Pierto/Youtube screencap]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/12/22/660x290/b_502x220x82/jabari-parker-was-almost-traded-to-the-knicks-last-offseason-image-credit-ximo-piertoyoutube_1744999.jpg "Jabari Parker was almost traded to the Knicks last offseason. – [image credit: Ximo Pierto/Youtube screencap]")
The New York Knicks would have received rising star forward Jabari Parker had the trade discussion with Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks materialized last summer. This was just one of many revelations NBA scribe Ian Begley of ESPN New York disclosed in his recent article that focused on the Knicks’ rebuild following the firing of Phil Jackson as the team’s president of basketball operation and the eventual trade of Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The three-team deal that never was
According to Begley, the Knicks were, at one point, in serious discussion with the Rockets for a potential trade centered on Anthony.
The insider noted that Knicks executives were determined to unload Anthony. The Rockets were the only trade partner in place because they were a preferred landing spot for Melo, who then had the right to veto trades.
Anthony was really looking forward to joining his buddy Chris Paul and perennial All-Star James Harden in Houston, but the Rockets didn’t have the assets to pique Scott Perry’s interest. The Knicks GM wanted no part of Ryan Anderson and his $20 million per year salary, prompting the Rockets to ask for help from a facilitating party.
The Milwaukee Bucks answered the call and, at that time, Melo’s trade to the Rockets looked inevitable. The proposed trade would have shipped Anthony to the Rockets, Parker and other assets to the Knicks, and Ryan Anderson to the Bucks.
“Everyone just seems a little lighter” these days around the Knicks, one team source says. “The drama Phil created with Carmelo really affected the team and the joy factor.” A look at the implosion that rebuilt the new-look Knicks here: https://t.co/hQF1nimFmI
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) December 21, 2017
The negotiations eventually collapsed because the Bucks were not high on giving up a still promising player in Parker (despite two ACL surgeries) for Anderson’s burdensome contract.
The Knicks moved on and instead traded Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott, who are both key factors to the Knicks’ surprising start this season.
The Porzingis trade buzz
Begley’s insider report also tackled the time when Jackson dangled Porzingis in trade talks as punishment for skipping the Knicks’ exit meeting.
According to the NBA insider, he was told by a league source that some members of the Knicks front office vouched for the idea of trading Porzingis, even though Jackson was merely framing those discussions to teach the Latvian star a lesson.
In his third NBA season, Porzingis is averaging a career-high 25.5 points on 46 percent field goal shooting, including 38 percent from beyond the three-point line. He has also chipped in 6.6 rebounds and almost two blocks per game to lead the Knicks to a 17-4 start. Of course, the Knicks’ resurgence wouldn’t be possible without Perry’s solid free-agency signings (Tim Hardaway, Michael Beasley, and Jarret Jack) and Jeff Hornacek, who is finally enjoying the freedom of utilizing his own set of plays.
