New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony wants out of town and it looks like he is willing to go somewhere other than the Houston Rockets.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Anthony has expanded his list of teams that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported shortly after that Anthony is also considering adding the Portland Trail Blazers to that list as well.
As of yesterday, Anthony was only willing to waive that no-trade clause for the Rockets, who added Chris Paul over the summer to join James Harden as Western Conference contenders.
But New York’s inability to make a move with Houston looks to be forcing Anthony’s hand.
To put it simply, the Rockets did not have the resources or assets needed to give the Knicks a suitable return for Anthony. The original plan called for a third or even fourth team to facilitate the deal and give New York something worthwhile, but the lack of action on the market made it abundantly clear that no other team was willing to step up unless they were getting Anthony.
The teams that Anthony expanded his list for have been connected with the 10-time All-Star at least once during the summer.
After his contract was not bought out by the Knicks in late June, Anthony told Knicks management that he was willing to waive his NTC for the Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he balked at the idea of going to Cleveland after Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the defending Eastern Conference champions.
In late July, it was reported that Anthony and the Thunder had a mutual interest in each other after Paul George was brought on to compliment reigning MVP Russell Westbrook.
Portland though might have been the most vocal suitor as guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum publicly lobbied for Anthony to join them in the Pacific Northwest.
Still, Anthony is expected to be on hand for Knicks media day on Monday, per ESPN.com’s Ian Begley even though his camp was “cautiously optimistic” on Thursday that he would be traded before then.
