New York Knicks NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Says He's Not Leaving 'Without Having a Plan'
It looked like Carmelo Anthony's time in New York was up a few weeks ago. The Knicks were discussing potential deals with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics, and many believed that it would only be a matter of time before they ship him to one of those teams. Well, talks have died down with the trade deadline just a few days away and it's now clear that trading Anthony was not as easy as it seems.
The Knicks would still love to trade him before the deadline, but in an interview with The Undefeated's Marc Spears, Anthony said moving him was not that simple.
"I haven't figured out a situation that makes sense for both parties. I am not the kind of guy who just goes out there and says, 'Get me outta here ... get me outta here,' without having a plan. It's bigger than that," he stated during the interview.
Interestingly, Marc Berman of the New York Post has reported that Los Angeles is Anthony's preferred destination. Does that mean he's willing to waive his no-trade clause if the Knicks manage to come up with a deal with the Clippers? Well, that's easier said than done. The two teams have been negotiating for some time now, but no deal has materialized so far. What about the Cavaliers and Celtics? Are they still potential trade partners for the Knicks?
There's still a chance that he'll be traded before the trade window closes, but Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical does not think he's going anywhere. "Most of the teams who had interest in him are looking in other directions right now and expect Melo to remain in New York, at least for the rest of this season," he said in his report.
The Knicks can always trade him in the offseason if they fail to trade him right now, so there's no rush. Right now, it seems Anthony is staying in New York.