SHIP HIM UP TO BOSTON
If Carmelo is to be traded by this week’s deadline, Celtics make most sense
NEW ORLEANS — If Carmelo Anthony calls being named Kevin Love’s All-Star replacement “a downer” one can only imagine what he thinks of Phil Jackson’s tweeting habits as well as the current state of the Knicks. The season has been an epic downer for Anthony, the 32-year-old forward who is in danger of missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Melo has already lost three prime years of his career and has the ability to end that streak prior to Thursday’s trading deadline. Anthony holds all the cards, thanks to a no-trade clause Jackson foolishly gifted him two summers ago. Melo can dictate his future if he wants to leave New York, which up to now doesn’t appear to be much of an option. But on Saturday, Anthony did admit: “To say I don’t think about it, I’d be wrong, I’d be lying to you. I think about it. Think about it a lot. I think about what’s best for me, what’s best for the organization and what’s out there. I think about that stuff.’’ We all know that Anthony thinks about playing with LeBron James. It’s been something both All-Stars have talked about in the past and now there is a need with Love sidelined for approximately six weeks following knee surgery. A move to Cleveland would satisfy several goals for Anthony; he’d be joining LeBron and playing for a legitimate championship contender. The problem is that the Cavs, barring a three-team deal, don’t have much to offer the Knicks. The last thing the Knicks should want is to take back players with longterm contracts. Jackson should be focused on two things: draft picks and expiring contracts.
Which brings us to the Clippers and the proposed deal for Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford, a trade that makes little sense for the Knicks. For Melo it’s great — he’d have his good buddy Chris Paul as his point guard and a ready-made contender. The downside is that even with Anthony it’s hard to imagine the Clippers upending the Warriors, but that’s another story.
There are other teams that make sense. Oklahoma City would trade for Anthony tomorrow if the Thunder could but no one thinks that Anthony is waiving his notrade clause to be Russell Westbrook’s running mate. The Spurs are another interesting option. Imagine Anthony as a sixth man for San Antonio.
Again, there are two pressing issues: Would Anthony agree to the trade and can the Knicks get back something of value. It’s a tricky two-way street. That’s why the best place for Anthony as well as the Knicks is Boston.
For one, there is a need. Boston needs a second star to play alongside Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford is not that guy. With Love injured, Boston is a threat to finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference but in a potential playoff series with Cleveland the Celtics don’t have enough to win four games.
And while Anthony wouldn’t improve two areas of weakness for the Celtics — defense and rebounding — he would make them better. There is a notion that Anthony wouldn’t agree to a move to Boston. That may be true, but the Celtics have a lot going for them. They can sell Anthony on the fact that Kevin Garnett re-invented his career when he was traded to the Celtics. They can also sell Anthony on the fact that they’re only going to get better since they have the right to swap picks with the Brooklyn Nets in June.
Boston is positioned to reach the conference finals and land the top overall pick of a deep 2017 draft. That’s a compelling case to make to Anthony, who cares about his brand and craves to be liked. He’d get that in Boston.
A move to the Celtics also benefits the Knicks since the Celtics can provide any combination of a first round pick — but not the Nets’ pick — a young player and/ or an expiring contract. Odds are that Anthony is still with the Knicks after Thursday’s deadline. If a trade happens, Boston makes the most sense.
For both Melo and the Knicks.
BEING FRANK
The best storyline in Sunday’s All-Star Game is whether Westbrook plays with his former teammate Kevin Durant. The two are no longer speaking and I can’t imagine Warriors coach Steve Kerr putting Durant in an awkward position.
Before taking the court for Saturday’s practice, Westbrook and James Harden were talking on one side of the room while the four Warriors, including Durant, were standing on the other side of the room. Stay tuned.
James skipped Friday’s mandatory media session for what the league was calling a “family issue.” That’s an old Michael Jordan move. In his final three All-Star games with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan would routinely skip Friday’s media availability. His excuse? Golf.
New York Times columnist Harvey Araton, a former Knicks beat writer for The News as well as Turner Sports broadcaster Craig Sager will be recognized during Hall of Fame weekend as this year’s Curt Gowdy Media Award recipients.
You think Kyrie Irving is crazy for saying the Earth is flat? Well, Phil Jackson thinks it’s a triangle.