BALL IN THE FAMILY
If Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is going to waive his no-trade clause, he’s going to do so only if wife La La and son Kiyan (inset) tell him that’s what they want.
WASHINGTON — Carmelo Anthony said he would be “torn” on whether to waive his no-trade clause if a deal materializes with the Clippers or Celtics, admitting his wife’s and 9-year-old son’s feelings come heavily into play.
However, Anthony reiterated if Knicks president Phil Jackson truly wants to rebuild, he has to consider it before the Feb. 23 trade deadline.
“That’s more about what I care about,’’ Anthony said after Knicks’ shootaround at Verizon Center on Tuesday. “My family, my son being comfortable in New York at an age now where he gets an opportunity to understand being in New York, having a home here, having friends here, my wife working there, having opportunities there.
“I think about that more so than my decision for my career. At the end of the day, it will come down to my decision, but I think more about what my family is thinking, what they’re going to go through if anything was to happen.”
The Celtics are working under the impression Anthony would approve a deal to Boston despite the rivalry between the two teams.
Anthony said he hasn’t told the Knicks anything of the sort. Anthony moved to Manhattan to make it easier for his actress wife, La La.
“No answer,’’ Anthony said. “I don’t know what to say about that or how to say it. Not something I’m thinking about. I haven’t told anybody anything. I haven’t had that conversation with anybody.
“Every day is a new team and, ‘Melo said this, Melo said that.’ Melo hasn’t said anything yet. That’s what I will say: Melo hasn’t said anything.”
Jackson and general manager Steve Mills, with the Knicks eight games under .500 after Tuesday’s 117-101 loss to the Wizards, are investigating suitable landing spots for Anthony, ready to admit to yet another failure. Combo guard Austin Rivers has been considered in a Clippers deal in an attempt to get younger, but to facilitate a trade, the Knicks would need a third team to take on 37year-old Jamal Crawford’s contract.
The Boston Herald reported the Celtics could be a third team in an Anthony-Clippers deal because of their future assets. The newspaper reported the Knicks and Celtics have had no formal talks about Anthony because the club is seeking a king’s ransom.
Anthony could find himself in a bad spot if he refuses and the Knicks go ahead and tear it down anyway by dealing Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings, both of whom are in the final year of their contracts.
“It’s more so what direction the organization wants to go,’’ Anthony said. “If they feel like they want to go in a different direction, and rebuild and start fresh, that’s something I will consider.’’
In a meeting two weeks ago with Jackson and Mills, Anthony said there was no talk about them calling teams.
“That wasn’t said in the meeting, wasn’t talked about,’’ Anthony said, adding communication has been sparse since.
“If something that’s imminent, they want to come to me, talk to me about, I’m sure I’ll get that phone call,’’ he added. “No conversations happening with me on a consistent or day-to-day basis.’’
Anthony tweeted a cryptic message Tuesday afternoon with a photo of him at a black history exhibit, looking at a passage advocating a slave rebellion.
“Running away from things you find unpleasant causes suffering,” he wrote. “But facing and challenging such situations will enrich your life. #StayMelo”
After Tuesday’s loss, Anthony said not to read anything into the message.
The Knicks still are in a playoff race, and Anthony said Sunday after a four-overtime loss to the Hawks he felt the club is “not far away’’ considering they have lost eight games on their final possession since mid-December.
“I’m not torn because I don’t think about it,’’ Anthony said. “Until I see something, maybe I will be torn. Right now I’m not torn. It’s not on my mind at this point.”