Report: Kyrie, Durant 'pushing' Nets to sign Melo

There may suddenly be a race for Carmelo Anthony's services in New York City.

The Brooklyn Nets are interested in the 35-year-old, and stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are "pushing" the club to sign the free-agent forward this summer, a source told The Athletic's Frank Isola.

Anthony, who has been out of the league since a 10-game stint with the Houston Rockets last season, is reportedly participating in the New York Knicks' informal scrimmages on Thursday at Columbia University. The veteran spent six-and-a-half seasons with the Knicks.

However, Anthony is a Brooklyn native, and both Nets general manager Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson have watched him train this summer, a source told Isola.

Irving, Durant, and Anthony haven't been NBA teammates, but the trio was part of Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Anthony has publicly expressed his desire to return to the NBA for the 2019-20 campaign.

After his trainer said in July that Anthony is hoping for one final "farewell season," the 10-time All-Star refuted that idea, and also said he would accept any role. Following his one year with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017-18, Anthony was criticized for adamantly refusing to come off the bench.

Anthony's reps have spoken with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he's also been linked with the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, according to Isola.

However, the Nets may be the most logical fit, at least temporarily. Durant is expected to miss the 2019-20 season with a torn Achilles, and forward Wilson Chandler will sit out the first 25 games after being suspended on Thursday for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.