Porzingis doesn't want Melo traded: 'He makes stuff easier for me'

Phil Jackson has made it clear that he wants to trade Carmelo Anthony, and Anthony has made it clear that he would welcome a trade to the right suitor. However, there's one franchise cornerstone who doesn't want to see the Knicks' high scorer gone - Kristaps Porzingis.

The rumors about a potential Anthony trade haven't let up. The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly flip-flopped on their interest in him, and the Boston Celtics have been rumored to be in the market, but haven't confirmed it. The Los Angeles Clippers have apparently shown interest, but aren't willing to give up any of their core four.

Related: Could Melo help the Clippers beat the Warriors? Probably not

Porzingis, for his part, is wary of what may happen if one of those rumors were to come true.

"I think it would make life harder for me on the court (if Anthony left)," Porzingis told Stefan Bondy of the NY Daily News. "He makes stuff easier for me."

The Knicks are 0-8 in games that Porzingis has played without Anthony, and 0-3 in games where Anthony's been ejected, as Bondy notes.

Despite owning the nickname the "Unicorn" - and being touted as one of the next great NBA big men - Porzingis isn't ready to give up the dynamic he has with Melo, as well as the insurance of having another high-volume scorer on his team.

"There's still a lot more things I want to learn from Melo," Porzingis said. "So I would love to have him around for a long time. I always love playing with Melo."