Anthony linked to Adams’ OKC
Steven Adams’ Oklahoma City Thunder have been reportedly cited as a potential destination for disgruntled New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony.
It has not been reported on any credible US basketball sites that the Thunder would be willing to part with Adams to pick up the fading superstar. It would be a major surprise if they were to trade their only legitimate starting centre, and a player they have invested heavily in as a foundation of their future, to pick up a player whose preference is to play the same small forward position as the recently acquired Paul George.
Anthony to OKC certainly holds some intrigue, if only for the offensive punch the All-Star and former Team USA forward would bring to a Thunder lineup already blessed with two of the league’s premier scorers in reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and George.
Anthony’s potential move to OKC was initially mooted via a tweet from respected NBA pundit Bill Simmons on his sports and culture website, The Ringer.
‘‘Have a scoop – OKC and Carmelo are officially circling each other. OKC’s Troy Weaver recruited Melo to Cuse + has known him since DMV days.’’
Simmons’ reference to Weaver refers to Anthony’s relationship with the OKC assistant general manager who has known the Knicks star since his days as a teenager in the Baltimore area.
Weaver was also an assistant coach on the Syracuse basketball staff who recruited Anthony to play his college hoops back in the early 2000s.
Anthony, who has a no-trade clause with the Knicks and can thus effectively pick his destination, has been linked most strongly with the Houston Rockets in recent weeks. There have also been less firm reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers could be another possible destination.
Anthony is close friends with both Rockets point guard Chris Paul and Cavs mega-star LeBron James.
But an Anthony move to the Thunder, his relationship with Weaver apart, appears to have much less of a foundation.
It’s doubtful that the Thunder would have the trade material sought by the Kicks, for starters, with Adams’ ‘Stache Brother mate, Enes Kanter, their most obvious piece they would be willing to give up.
It’s also dubious how much Anthony would add to a lineup already featuring two primary scoring options in Westbrook and George.
Anthony has also made it clear his preference is to go to a larger market city, and Oklahoma City certainly does not qualify.
Respected New York Daily News NBA writer Frank Isola reported ‘‘according to a source close to a Anthony, his primary objective is to get moved to Houston. His camp is optimistic that a deal with the Rockets is going to happen’’.
Isola described the report of Thunder interest in Anthony as ‘‘legitimate’’ but was lukewarm on it leading anywhere.
‘‘One person close to Anthony doubts he would play in Oklahoma City but that perhaps he’d be willing to at least talk. Another simply said ‘Houston’ when asked about the OKC report,’’ Isola wrote in the Daily News.
The Thunder last season rewarded Adams with a four-year US$100 million contract extension, confirming they see him as a crucial pillar of their future.
No-one, bar one or two obvious exceptions, is untradeable in the NBA.
But don’t look for the Thunder to sacrifice Adams for what would be a major gamble in Anthony. Even if he backflipped, and decided to take his talents to the small market in OKC.