Carmelo Anthony isn’t getting traded without Carmelo Anthony’s permission. That’s because of Phil Jackson — and let’s be honest here, probably on orders from owner James Dolan — gave Anthony a no-trade clause.
And Carmelo Anthony wants you to know he hasn’t said anything about waiving that clause yet. Not for the Clippers, not for the Cavaliers, and not for the Celtics.
The brilliant Jeff Zillgitt at the USA today talked to Anthony about all the trade rumors, and Anthony answered the question in the third person. Which is the best part of his answer.“I hear the new report every day,” Anthony said Tuesday morning. “Every day is a new team. ‘Melo said this, Melo said that.’ Melo hasn’t said anything yet. That’s what I will say. Melo hasn’t said anything yet....
“That’s more about what I care about — my family, my son being comfortable in New York and at an age now where he really gets an opportunity to understand being in New York and having a home there and having friends there and my wife working there and having her opportunities there,” Anthony said. “I think about that more so of my decision for my career. At the end of the day, it will come down to my decision, but I think about what my family is thinking and what they’ll have to go through if anything.”
When he was a free agent, Anthony decided to stay with the Knicks for two reasons: More money and his family wanted to be in New York. Two very valid reasons. He’s got the money now if he waives that clause — more actually, he has a 15 percent trade kicker. But the family considerations are real.
That doesn’t mean Anthony will not waive the clause, he told Zillgit that the direction the Knicks want to go and the place the other team is in — and yes, if he has friends on it — all will be considerations. But like you and me making a big career decision, there are a lot of factors in play.
For Phil Jackson, the real problem with getting this deal done will be finding a deal that he likes. Teams are taking on a hefty salary for a 33-year-old player, they are not sending guys at their peaks back. It’s going to be a combination young players, role players, and picks if the Celtics are in play. And not as many of any of that as the Knicks want.
I still bet he doesn’t get moved until this summer. But the rumors will continue for another three weeks until the deadline passes.
