MELO OUT IS REAL DEAL
Anthony era is over in New York as Knicks, star agree on a trade with OKC Thunder
A COMPLICATED era is over. Carmelo Anthony finally escaped New York. After months of posturing and misdirection regarding his future, the Knicks agreed to ship the greatest Knick since Patrick Ewing to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Doug McDermott, Enes Kanter and a 2018 second-round pick, a source confirmed Saturday. Two role players is a small haul for a player of Anthony’s stature and scoring prowess, but the Knicks were never getting a comparable return. Both sides just needed to move on after a long and contentious divorce period. During and after Phil Jackson’s tenure, the Knicks made it known that Anthony was no longer part of their plans. But they couldn’t agree to a deal to satisfy Anthony’s desire of playing for the Rockets, setting in motion fears that the small forward would make it to another Knicks training camp. He didn’t want that. Less than two weeks ago, according to a source, Anthony opened up his options to three destinations — including the Rockets — to pressure the Knicks to get a deal done before having to attend Media Day in New York on Monday. As the Daily News first reported, the Knicks reached out to the Cavs recently with the understanding that Anthony would waive his notrade clause to join buddy LeBron James. However, the Cavs were unwilling to part with Tristan Thompson or Kevin Love. The Thunder were also on Anthony’s list, and there is an important connection: Assistant GM Troy Weaver formerly coached Anthony at Syracuse, and the two remain close. Beyond that, the Thunder will boast a trio (Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Paul George) as lethal offensively as any in the NBA. To complete the deal, Anthony not only had to waive his no-trade clause, he sacrificed a trade kicker worth $8.1 million. He leaves the biggest NBA market for one of the smallest, an ironic move considering he pushed so hard to travel the opposite way six years ago for his trade to the Knicks. New York is the city that never sleeps and Oklahoma City’s stores all close by 6 p.m. But digital media has changed the landscape such that stars can get exposure and endorsements in any market. The Thunder have 27 games on national television this season, compared to New York’s eight.
To take back Kanter and McDermott, the Knicks will waive point guard Chasson Randle, who is on a non-guaranteed contract, a source confirmed. Kanter, 25, an offensive-minded center who averaged 14.3 points off the bench last season, is guaranteed nearly $37 million over the next two seasons. McDermott, 25, a forward who also came off the bench last season, can become a restricted free agent next year.
The Knicks are projected to land in the lottery again, while challenged to replace Anthony’s 22-plus points per game. They’ll be really bad, but it’s easy to find the longterm reasons for dealing Anthony: it creates a faster transition into the Kristaps Porzingis era; it eliminates potential distractions and another controversy; it jibes with New York’s tanking strategy in the final year of the current draft lottery system.
Anthony would’ve been traded long ago if he wasn’t one of only three NBA players with a no-trade clause. It was given to Anthony by Jackson — along with a $124 million contract — in 2014. Before that, he led the Knicks to a division title, a playoff series victory and set the franchise record for most points in a game (62).
But everything went downhill after Jackson took over as president, culminating Saturday with Anthony leaving the Knicks — a marriage once meant to save the franchise.