As the countdown to the 2017 NBA trade deadline continues, the Knicks must decide what to do with star forward Carmelo Anthony.
Will the 32-year-old waive his no-trade clause? If he does, it might only be to play in Los Angeles–putting the Clippers and Lakers atop the list of potential landing spots before the 3 p.m. deadline on Feb. 23.
That’s the latest Carmelo Anthony trade rumor, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.
According to a source who has spoken to Knicks officials, the odds are heavily against the team dealing Anthony by Thursday’s trade deadline. Anything that has been discussed probably has not been attractive enough, plus Anthony can block any deal that is not to Los Angeles, his preferred destination.
As Berman reports, the odds against an Anthony deal are stacking up. The clock is ticking on Knicks president Phil Jackson, and few teams seem willing to do what it takes to land the scoring machine.
Melo to Celtics?
If, however, a deal is struck, Anthony must approve. While both the Clippers and Lakers have been mentioned as possible landing spots for Anthony, the idea that Los Angeles is the only place a trade could happen severely limits New York’s leverage in talks.
For the Clippers, a deal could be looked at as a missing piece to a run. For the Lakers, a shift from young, recent draft picks to veteran leadership would have to be the driving force behind a deal.
Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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