New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony denied having any desire to drop his no-trade clause. His response followed a report from Marc Berman of the New York Post that indicated the perennial All-Star would be open to being traded if things didn't turn around in the Big Apple.
First, the report, per Berman:
"Five months after swearing his allegiance to New York and signing a five-year, $124 million contract, sources told The Post the All-Star forward would be open to dropping his no-trade clause if team president Phil Jackson strikes a deal with a team Anthony would like to play for. ...
"For now, Anthony has no desire to be traded, but his willingness to consider giving up the n-trade clause shows how frustrated he has become with the Knicks' historically bad start to the season."
If Anthony were to be traded, he would receive a payment of $17.5 million because of the trade kicker in his contract. While Anthony is eligible to be traded starting Dec. 15, one of Berman's sources said Anthony still trusts Jackson.
"He thought things would be better than this, but he still wants to stick it out for now," the source said. "He trusts Phil, but I think he's afraid of Phil."
It didn't take long for Anthony and his camp to come out and deny the report, however.
"After all the work I did to get here and get back here? If I was to get up and want to leave now that would just make me weak," Anthony said, via RealGM.
His agent, Leon Rose, also dismissed the report to the New York Daily.
"Carmelo, as always, is committed to the Knicks," Rose said of the 4-20 team. "There have never been discussions about trades or wanting to leave New York. Any story, rumor, report to the contrary is utter nonsense."
