The New York Knicks haven't been shy about their desire to trade Carmelo Anthony this offseason, and he has previously said he'd be open to joining the Los Angeles Clippers or Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, Anthony has changed his mind and does not plan to waive his no-trade clause because he wants to stay close to his family in New York, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
But things are complicated. Carmelo and his actress wife, La La, are estranged, and with Anthony having a close relationship with his only son, he is reluctant to move out of New York. According to a person familiar with Anthony's thinking, Carmelo is no longer enamored with playing in Los Angeles if it means having to be away from his son for an extended period of time.
Anthony, according to the same source, was toying with the idea of orchestrating a move to either Philadelphia or Washington, which would keep him close to New York. However, Anthony's mindset now is to stay in New York and play for the Knicks... even though Jackson doesn't want him.
Knicks president Phil Jackson re-iterated his desire to deal Anthony before the draft.
“We’ve expressed the fact that we haven’t been successful and it might be time for (Carmelo) to find an opportunity to go somewhere else. He’s come back and said he’d just as soon stay.”
“There’ll be conversations after the draft and after the free agency as teams start reorganizing their rosters. So there will be other conversations in the process.”
Anthony is owed $54 million over the next two seasons, and if he doesn't waive that no-trade clause, New York will have to buy out his contract if they want to part ways with him.
Anthony averaged 22.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this past season.
Follow our New York Knicks team page for all the latest Knicks rumors!
Back to the New York Knicks Newsfeed