Carmelo Anthony’s camp has “tried to engage” the Knicks about a buyout that would allow the Knicks’ star to finish his career outside of New York, according to ESPN.
League sources: Carmelo Anthony’s camp, while acknowledging Melo’s preference to stay in NYC, has tried to engage the Knicks in buyout talks
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 27, 2017
But league sources say that the Knicks have thus far resisted the idea of a Melo buyout that would clear the way for him to join the Cavs
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 27, 2017
Cleveland is reportedly one possible destination should Anthony leave the Knicks, with one league source telling ZAGSBLOG it’s “going that way.” Anthony and LeBron James are close friends, while J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert were Anthony’s teammates on the Knicks.
Knicks President Phil Jackson has repeatedly said this offseason that Anthony and the team would be better of if they parted ways.
“We have not been able to win with him on the court at this time and I think the direction with our team is that he is a player that would be better off somewhere else and using his talent somewhere he can win or chase that championship,” Jackson said in April.
Meantime, Anthony’s wife, La La Vasquez, said Tuesday that Anthony’s priority is to remain near their son, Kiyan, amid their marital troubles.
“The most important thing with that is just to stay close to Kiyan,” La La Anthony said on The Wendy Williams Show, via ESPN. “That’s my priority, that’s his priority. So wherever he ends up, of course we want him to be happy.”
Moving Anthony will be difficult, given his age and the $54 million remaining on the five-year deal Jackson gave him in 2014. He also granted Anthony a no-trade clause in that contract, but said he doesn’t regret it.
“He’s carried the basic load for this team. I thought he stood up well this year in a lot of tough situations. I can’t regret it. I can’t go back and regret that,” Jackson said in April. “Obviously it hasn’t worked out, this partnership together. Somehow or other it didn’t click here with this team, but he’s done his role and played his role quite well.”
Jackson said then he we would want back a “significant player” to replace Anthony, who remains the Knicks’ leading scorer, and was vague on whether he thought Anthony could return if there was no trade.
“That’s a long way down the road, but there’s very few options at that level,” Jackson said. “But there are options.”
(The AP contributed)
