Knicks may inevitably move closer to entertaining Melo trade
Save for a brief reprieve between 2010 and 2013, the last decade has been rough for the once-proud New York Knicks franchise.
The Knicks are coming off their worst season in franchise history, which saw the team win just 17 games despite playing in a weakened Eastern Conference.
Should their struggles continue, the Knicks might consider starting a rebuild by trading their aging superstar Carmelo Anthony, as Grantland's Zach Lowe hinted at on Thursday:
The Kings and Knicks should take a look (at Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris), even though neither has movable assets that would interest Phoenix - unless the Knicks are ready to engage in Carmelo Anthony trade talks. (They're not there, yet. But they're getting closer.)
Lowe clarified his comments in an exchange with the Wall Street Journal's Knicks beat reporter Chris Herring.
@faustolozada It's the same stuff me and many others have heard: If Knicks really struggle, its real possibility that they'll have that talk
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) September 10, 2015
Re: Melo mention today, this is all I really meant. I actually think NYK may be better than people think this season https://t.co/SKgaBF2iK5
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) September 10, 2015
Considering the Knicks moved heaven and earth to acquire Anthony, trading their star forward would be a tough pill to swallow.
There's also the tricky matter of Anthony's no-trade clause and somewhat burdensome contract. Anthony has the option of blocking any trade not to his liking, and he's still owed $101 million over the next four seasons after signing a five-year, $125-million deal last summer.
For Anthony, however, leaving the Knicks could mean a chance to contend for a championship, which has eluded him throughout his illustrious 12-year career. As a free agent last summer, Anthony was courted by a number of playoff teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks.
For the Knicks, trading Anthony earlier rather than later would likely net a greater return. The Knicks have wrangled two promising rookies in Jerian Grant and Kristaps Porzingis, but have little else in the way of young talent, and don't own their own 2016 first-round pick (sent to Toronto by way of the Andrea Bargnani trade).
It likely depends whether New York's season offers a turnaround or more of the same. The Knicks reloaded by adding some dependable veteran help this summer, and if those upgrades are coupled with a cleaner bill of health for the team, they may not need to think about moving Anthony.