The trade talks for Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony has heated up over the past week. With a no-trade clause in his contract, Anthony can dictate where he goes within the NBA and that, along with his $26 million salary next season, has been difficult to get a move done.
After it was reported that he would be willing to be traded to the Cleveland Cavs, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Anthony is heading to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 2nd round draft pick.
The entire process of this Woj Bomb from “serious talks” to “nearing a deal” and then an agreed deal took less than 10 minutes. This move seemed to go fast and the trade will be made official Monday.
New York is in serious talks on a Carmelo Anthony trade to Oklahoma City, league sources tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017
OKC would send Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott to New York, League sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017
New York is nearing deal to send Carmelo Anthony to Oklahoma City, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017
New York has agreed to a deal to send Carmelo Anthony to OKC for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a draft pick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017
Deal is complete, trade call Monday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017
Sources: OKC will send New York a 2018 second-round pick via Chicago.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017
Russell Westbrook and Paul George played an immense part in getting Anthony to waive no-trade for OKC, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017
Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks haven’t been the most harmonious relationship so if a deal could be made to get Melo out of MSG, both he and the Knicks would be open to it. But with his no-trade clause, Anthony would be able to choose where he would go. And like Woj said, with Russell Westbrook and Paul George in OKC, Anthony knows that he is on a team could could compete.
As far as the Knicks is concerned, this is another step in their rebuilding. Many Knicks fans want to see a winning team or at least a team trying to win but they are better off starting from scratch and getting rid of those who get a lot of money and/or don’t really want to be there anymore. I’m sure Knicks fans feel like they’re getting the losing end of this deal but it’ll help with the rebuild.
And when it comes to the Thunder, Westbrook, George and Anthony will make for a formidable three. They probably still aren’t beating the Warriors in the playoffs but at least there’s a chance we’ll see a competitive Western Conference Finals and it won’t just be a given that the Warriors will be playing for another title.
