With the New York Knicks likely to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season there has been a lot of talk about Carmelo Anthony and his future with the organization. Many people believe the Knicks should trade Anthony and that he should want a trade since they likely won't be contenders anytime soon. Anthony though, controls all of that since he has a no-trade clause. There were reports that the Knicks and Celtics had some discussions about a blockbuster deal involving Anthony but he refused to waive his no-trade clause to go to Boston. Anthony has since denied that report, according to Frank Isola and Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
Anthony is now 31-years-old and his window of opportunity as a star player appears to be closing. The Knicks are already concerned about the long-term health of his knee so they understandably were in talks about trading their star. The current Knicks team, although much better than last season, doesn't have a very high ceiling and they clearly need to go in a different direction centered around rookie phenom Kristaps Porzingis. Despite the reports that the Knicks feel the same way Anthony said "heck no" when asked if the Knicks approached him about waiving his no-trade clause.
Anthony still has three years and more than $75 million on his contract so it would be a wise move for the Knicks to try and give that contract to someone else. Unfortunately for the Knicks it is not fully up to them. Trade talks involving Anthony are expected to be revisited over the summer but he likely won't agree unless it's to a place of his liking. Anthony has made it clear he wants to win in New York so trading him will likely be a very tough task.
Whether Anthony blocked the trade to the Celtics or not there is one person who is happy he is still a Knick and that is Porzingis. The rookie has said he doesn't want his "mentor" to be traded, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York. This situation doesn't appear to be close to over but Anthony seems pretty set on finishing his contract out in New York even if it isn't his best chance to win a title.
