J.R. Smith: Knicks treating Melo 'really unfair and unjust'

J.R. Smith is tight with Carmelo Anthony from their days as teammates on the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, so it's no surprise he's siding with him.

In the midst of trying to win his second straight championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the veteran shooting guard was asked if he thinks Melo will demand a trade from the Knicks due to team president Phil Jackson's public efforts to run him out of town.

"I haven't spoken to him along that topic, but I'm sure he does feel some type of way about how he's being treated, really unfair and unjust," Smith replied Saturday in Oakland, as transcribed by ASAP Sports.

Related: Phil says Melo will 'be better off somewhere else'

"Unfortunately, I'm not on that team and not in that situation, so I really don't want to speak too much on it. And obviously we have bigger things going on with the NBA Finals going on. So I hope the best for him. Melo's a very tough guy and he'll figure it out."

The 31-year-old, who played with Anthony for almost eight seasons, called the All-Star forward his "all-time favorite person" last year and defended him amid criticism from George Karl in his new book.

In addition to Smith's bond with Anthony, who considers him his "brother," he has other reasons for his stance. Jackson had taken some parting shots at the swingman, writing he was traded due to his "delinquent behavior" and failure to carry the scoring load on the second unit.

Melo has two years and about $54 million remaining on his contract - as well as a no-trade clause - with the Knicks, who missed the playoffs for the fourth straight campaign.