NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony To Heat, Justise Winslow And Josh McRoberts To Knicks?
Once again, NBA trade rumors are popping up regarding New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and his possible future destination in the league. The latest speculation is suggesting that ‘Melo might wind up becoming part of Pat Riley’s Miami Heat organization. If true, it would make Anthony the top star of the team and unite him with current team stars Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside for a potential playoff run. Will the Knicks and Heat end up making an NBA offseason trade involving Carmelo Anthony, though?
As suggested by Sportsrageous in their recent report, a potential trade could take place with the Heat sending Justise Winslow and Josh McRoberts to the Knicks for Carmelo. Several things would need to happen in order to make this deal work out, though. Carmelo would not to finally give in and waive that no-trade clause that’s built into his Knicks’ contract. The Miami Heat would need to get Chris Bosh’s salary off the books. Finally, Josh McRoberts has a $6 million player option he would need to option for the 2017-18 NBA season. If all three of those things line up, then the rumors could end up proving true with ‘Melo joining the Knicks.
The Miami Heat failed to make the 2017 NBA Playoffs, but it was just barely. The team was one of the biggest turnaround stories of the season, going from lackluster to surging at just the right time. As Basketball Insiders noted, the Heat were 30-11 in the second half of the season with only the Golden State Warriors getting more wins over that stretch. A tie in terms of record with the Chicago Bulls at the end of the regular season resulted in Miami ending up on the outside looking in for the postseason. Add an All-Star like Carmelo Anthony to the roster and that would likely change.
Melo would bring averages of 22.4 points, nearly six rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game along with 13 years of experience in the league. While that experience doesn’t include too many deep playoff runs, it would certainly help out in winning regular season games, especially if he’s a good fit alongside the Heat’s big man and Dragic on the court. Of course, the idea of bringing ‘Melo to South Beach could be alluring to Pat Riley, but there would also be a lot of cap space absorbed on making him a part of the team going forward. It would also mean parting ways with Winslow, who is a talented young star with future potential.
So where does that leave the Knicks? They’d pick up that young, physical future talent with Justise Winslow and a scrappy big in Josh McRoberts. As of Tuesday night, the team also learned that they’ll have the No. 8 NBA Draft pick in June. An ESPN report after the NBA Draft Lottery indicated that the Knicks’ possible picks could include Kentucky Wildcats’ point guard De’Aaron Fox or International guard Frank Ntilikina. Other possibilities include Kentucky’s Malik Monk or NC State’s Dennis Smith Jr. but it’s noted that if Carmelo Anthony is dealt, a small forward might become the team’s most pressing need in the NBA Draft.
While it seems painfully obvious that Knicks’ president Phil Jackson wants Anthony out of New York in favor of rebuilding, Knicks’ MSG color commentator Walt “Clyde” Frazier feels differently.
“I would like to see Melo stay. There’s a lot of negativity going on right now, so I don’t know. I don’t think he’s the problem. They have to improve defense, get some more talent, and having Melo would be fine.”
That all sounds easier said than done. When it comes down to it both Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks want to win, it’s just that their plans to do so probably won’t line up anytime in the near future.
[Featured Image by Getty Images]
