Report: Knicks agree to trade Melo to OKC
NEW YORK (AP) – Carmelo Anthony won't be at Knicks training camp after all. He'll be in Oklahoma City, joining Russell Westbrook and Paul George in a loaded lineup.
The Knicks agreed to trade Anthony to the Thunder on Saturday, saving themselves a potentially awkward reunion next week with the player they'd been trying to deal since last season.
New York will get Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a draft pick, a person with knowledge of the deal said. The person spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced.
The Knicks had said just a day earlier that they
expected
Anthony to be there when they reported for camp Monday. But it was clear they didn't want him anymore and he no longer wanted to be in New York, where he arrived with so much hype that was never fulfilled in February 2011.
He rarely had a championship core around him in New York but jumps right into one in Oklahoma City along with Westbrook, the NBA MVP, and fellow All-Star George, who was acquired from Indiana this summer.
Anthony will see his old teammates soon: The Knicks open the regular season at Oklahoma City on Oct. 19.
Anthony agreed to waive his notrade clause to complete the deal, which was first reported by The Vertical. Phil Jackson spent the latter part of his time in New York making it clear he wanted to move Anthony. But a deal was difficult because the 33-year-old forward has two years and about $54 million left on his contract, along with the ability to decline any trade. He had long maintained that he wanted to stay in New York, but the constant losing and a chance to play with a talented lineup convinced him it was finally time to go. After making the postseason each of his first 10 seasons, he has been on the sidelines the last four years and said at the end of last season his priority was a chance to win. He wouldn't have that in New York, where the Knicks are emphasizing youth and have little proven talent with which to surround Anthony. But he is close with Westbrook and George and should fit in nicely. He can possibly settle into the spotup shooter role he's played in the Olympics, where he's won a record three gold medals and is the career scoring leader for the U.S. men. The trade ends an unfulfilling 6 1/2-year run in New York for Anthony, where he could never shake his reputation of an elite scorer who can't carry a team to a ring. The Knicks made the playoffs his first three seasons and reached the second round in 2013, when Anthony led the league with 28.7 points per game. But after that they never seriously proved they could do anything consistently beyond make headlines. Defending champion Centro Escolar University (CEU) and Colegio de San Lorenzo square off in a possible finals preview as the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) Season 2 heats up today at the Olivarez College gym in Sucat, Parañaque City. The last two remaining undefeat- ed squads in the eight-team field, the Scorpions and the Griffins take center stage at 2 pm, both eager to sustain their winning forms and seize the hold of solo leadership.
Streaking CdSL should play the favorite’s role since the Griffins are riding the crest of a five-game winning streak as they continue to get the best from the likes of Benin import Soulemane Chabi Yo, top locals Jon Gabriel, Gelo Sablan and Jan Formento.
The absence of Congolese big man Rod Ebondo, who’s been tapped to suit up for Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas in the ongoing FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Chenzhou, China, leaves a big shoe to fill for the Scorpions—and a glaring hole that the Griffins could pounce on.
But CdSL coach Boni Garcia believes CEU, even without the 6-foot-6 Ebondo, remains a tough assignment.
“That development could be a double-edged sword. It gives us an advantage in terms of manpower but that could also open more opportunities to their other players. They’re a very organized team so I’m expecting a tough match.”