Reports: Carmelo Anthony Seeking Trade To Rockets, Not Cavaliers

Carmelo Anthony has been rumored to be traded to one of several NBA teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the ten-time All-Star is most interested in playing for the Houston Rockets, according to the latest reports.

Knicks Carmelo Anthony trade Rockets Cavaliers news

Marc Berman of the New York Post reported Monday that the veteran New York Knicks forward’s main reason for his disinterest in the Cavaliers if that he has grown tired of the team’s instability in its front office and with the drama surrounding Kyrie Irving’s possible exit from Cleveland.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on July 3 Anthony would only be interested in waiving his no-trade clause for the Rockets or Cavaliers.

Three weeks later, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst claimed that Irving wanted to leave the Cavs because he refuses to continue playing alongside LeBron James. The Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat then became the top teams predicted to sign Irving.

Cleveland’s executive staff has garnered a bad reputation since the team decided not to renew general manager David Griffin’s contract. Things reportedly became so shaky with the Cavs that even some of the team’s own players began warning other then-free-agent All-Stars like Jimmy Butler to stay away from Cleveland.

The Knicks have already padded their roster with some strong players this year. New York selected 19-year-old French guard Frank Ntilikina as the eighth overall draft pick, and also signed ten-year veteran point guard Ramon Sessions — who spent last season with the Charlotte Hornets — on a one-year deal worth $2.33 million last week.

However, the Knicks also lost Derrick Rose after just one season. The veteran point guard and 2008 No. 1 overall pick signed a one-year, $21. million deal with the Cavaliers last week.

Berman stated in his report that the Knicks’ top two executives won’t send 33-year-old Anthony — who has been with the Knicks since 2011 — to the Rockets until they have guaranteed they can receive in return a player who will be a valuable asset for the team going forward.

“The Knicks’ management tandem of Steve Mills-Scott Perry claim it won’t trade Anthony to Houston unless it cobbles together a solid deal that makes sense for the Knicks’ future,” Berman writes. “Nothing has materialized.”

The Rockets have already acquired point guard Chris Paul this offseason via a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Post also reported that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers are also targeting Anthony, although the veteran has not expressed interest in either team.

Anthony still has one year remaining on his contract with the Knicks, a deal that includes a one-year player option for 2018-2019. He has only advanced to the conference finals once in his 12-year career, with the Denver Nuggets in 2009.

Should Anthony join the Rockets, he would reunite with former Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni, who resigned in 2012 after four seasons during which his speed-ball offense seemed to bother Anthony. D’Antoni also heavily relied on point guard Jeremy Lin during his last season as coach.

D’Antoni’s brother Dan D’Antoni — who served as a Knicks assistant during his brother’s four-year tenure with the team — told the Post on Monday that Mike would move on from all the bitterness in New York. Dan D’Antoni praised both his brother and Anthony, saying they would work together very well if Anthony ended up in Houston.

“There were a lot of things that went wrong, but Carmelo is a heckuva player,’’ said Dan D’Antoni. “All I’m saying is Mike’s a good person. He understands people change, things change. Two things you can’t deny: Mike’s a helluva coach. Carmelo is a very good player. If those two see eye-to-eye, Mike and I are always optimistic things are meant to be. The next day is going to be better than the day before.”

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 17: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on November 17, 2016 in Washington, DC.