Carmelo Anthony not concerned about Thursday’s NBA trade deadline
Carmelo Anthony talks with the media after Knicks practice at the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh, New York, on Feb. 22, 2017. Credit: Richard Harbus
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Carmelo Anthony isn’t sweating out the NBA trade deadline. He said he’s relaxed and hopes to be enjoying his pregame nap at 3:01 p.m. Thursday — one minute after the deadline.
Anthony, who has a no-trade clause, said Knicks management hasn’t brought him anything to sign off on. He reiterated that he doesn’t expect to be anywhere else but with the Knicks when they face the Cavaliers Thursday night in Cleveland.
“Yeah, as of now,” Anthony said after Wednesday’s practice. “I haven’t heard anything. I haven’t seen anything other than what’s on social media. But other than that, nobody has reached out to me, nobody has called me, nobody has called my team. That’s why I’m not too concerned about it.”
The Knick whose name is coming up more in trade rumors is Derrick Rose. The Vertical reported that the Knicks have been aggressively shopping Rose, who will be a free agent and likely doesn’t have a long-term future with the Knicks.
Minnesota reportedly is interested, which makes sense because Rose would be reunited with his former coach Tom Thibodeau. Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio likely would be involved if the sides reached a deal.
Rose was sitting on a bench at the end of practice while the other players were finishing a scrimmage. It led to speculation that the Knicks were holding Rose out to keep him healthy in case they can move him. But the Knicks said he took part in all of practice before that. Rose left without speaking to reporters.
Kyle O’Quinn and Brandon Jennings also are candidates to be traded, though Jennings said he didn’t think he would be. “I know it’s a business, but I don’t see myself getting moved,” Jennings said.
Coach Jeff Hornacek said he doesn’t expect any trades but added the caveat unless management comes to him with something. “I expect the same team,” Hornacek said. “Until they come in and tell me that someone’s been traded, we all think it’s going to be the same team that we have at practice.”
Whether Anthony remains a Knick past the deadline has been a topic for more than five weeks since Phil Jackson’s confidant Charley Rosen wrote that “Anthony had outlived his usefulness in New York.”
Anthony said he will be glad when the deadline passes so he can stop answering questions about it, but he’s already in “a Melo state of mind.”
“I’m relaxed,” he said. “At 3:01 hopefully I’ll be sleeping, taking a nap, getting ready for the game. But I’m relaxed. I’ve never allowed that talk to kind of interfere with what I have going on as far as playing basketball.”
It’s been presumed that Anthony would agree to a trade to the Cavaliers (to play with LeBron James) or the Clippers (to play with Chris Paul). The Celtics also have been linked to Anthony. He hasn’t said he’s given the Knicks a list of teams for which he would waive the no-trade clause. Anthony gave a cryptic answer when asked if management has an understanding of what he would accept.
“I think they know and understand how I feel and what I’m thinking, and I think I know what they’re thinking,” Anthony said. “I try to figure that out. But those guys understand and know how I’m feeling, what’s on my mind, and what I would like to see happen.”
Anthony has talked about his family being a priority in his decision. If nothing happens by 3 p.m. Thursday, the Knicks could revisit trading him in the offseason. Anthony wasn’t ready Wednesday to talk about how he would want to be remembered as a Knick if he were traded Thursday.
“I can’t think about that,” he said. “I can’t think about that until something actually happens, then maybe I can answer that question. Maybe at 3:01 tomorrow if something happened I’ll send you some answers to that question.”
Notes & quotes: Courtney Lee (illness) still hasn’t returned to the team. Hornacek said Lee was being treated with IV fluids and hopes he’ll meet the team in Cleveland, but he may not be able to play even if he does.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
