Agent calls Melo deal a win-win
CARMELO Anthony’s agent praised the Knicks for agreeing to trade the All-Star forward prior to the start of training camp and for making a deal that makes sense for both Oklahoma City and the Knicks.
“The trade is a win-win for both teams,” Leon Rose told The Daily News. “Melo is with a team that can compete for a championship and the Knicks acquired two very good, young players and a possibly high second-round pick. It’s a fresh start for everybody.”
Rose said Anthony, who was traded to Oklahoma City on Saturday, was thrilled with the outcome after weeks of uncertainty about his future. Anthony and Rose believed the Knicks and Rockets were on the verge of making a trade in early July until the Knicks suddenly pulled back, partly because they were reluctant to take on Ryan Anderson’s contract and also because Knicks president Steve Mills was in the process of hiring Scott Perry as general manager.“Even though Scott and I battled over Houston, I have to respect the fact that he inherited an extremely difficult situation and that he had to do what was best for the organization,” Rose added. “Ultimately, he did right by Carmelo and made a deal. It all worked out for everybody.”
Rose would neither confirm nor deny that he went to then-Knicks president Phil Jackson and requested a buyout. However, in late June Anthony agreed to waive his no-trade clause if the Knicks could strike a deal with the Rockets. The teams began trade talks that month and those negotiations continued even after Garden chairman James Dolan abruptly fired Jackson.
When it became clear that the Knicks wouldn’t make a deal work with the Rockets, Anthony expanded his wish list two weeks ago to include Cleveland and Oklahoma City.
The Knicks acquired Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick via the Chicago Bulls for Anthony, nearly three months to the day after Anthony and the Knicks first agreed that a trade was in the best interests of both parties. When Anthony arrived in Oklahoma City on Sunday he was greeted by fans at the airport, an experience Rose says he and Anthony will never forget. “Incredible,” Rose said. “We weren’t expecting that.” Anthony’s camp is happy Perry handled the split amicably and with class in the wake of Anthony being criticized repeatedly by Jackson during last season. Neither Anthony nor Rose responded last season to Jackson’s public criticism, although it was clear that it bothered Anthony. When asked about Jackson on Tuesday, Rose refused to comment, which of course speaks volumes. All Rose would say is that he was “happy that I was able to work with Scott on this deal.”
When the deal became official on Monday, Anthony released a letter on his website that he addressed to New York, to Knicks fans and to the organization.
“Melo has always had a very good relationship with Mr. Dolan and I know he appreciates his support in making this happen,” Rose added. “It definitely was a roller coaster ride for these seven seasons. I know that Melo loved his time in New York and always will have a special place in his heart for the loyal New York fans that showed him so much love and support.”