Kristaps Porzingis still doesn’t want Carmelo Anthony to leave the New York Knicks.
Even with the knowledge that Melo bolting would allow him to become the unequivocal face of the franchise, Porzingis doesn’t want him going anywhere. Not this summer. Not anytime soon.
From the New York Daily News‘ Stefan Bondy:
As Carmelo Anthony declared Saturday that he has shut down talk of his no-trade clause for the remainder of the season, the young player who has benefited greatly from the All-Star’s presence made a plea for him to stay with the franchise.
“Obviously I want him to stay here. We need him. I need him,” Kristaps Porzingis told the Daily News. “And we don’t want to lose him.”
…
“I need to No. 1, to learn from him. And to win. We need him to win,” Porzingis told The News. “Without him it would be much more difficult. Him leaving would be tough but I’m not worried about that, I don’t think it’s going that way. He’s been loyal. I think he loves New York. And that’s the most important thing.”
This is such a good take, and it’s something the Knicks should consider in the event they’re attempting to run Melo out of town with their string of recent decisions.
Getting rid of Melo does indeed drum up the value of next year’s picks, and it allows the Knicks to rebuild without worrying about their superstar’s contrarian timeline. But Melo has become an important part in Porzingis’ development. He has stepped up in ways as a mentor, and having him on the roster allows Porzingis to grow without the pressure of being the No. 1 option too early.
And knowing that Melo’s no-trade clause essentially guarantees that the Knicks won’t be able to receive ample compensation in return for his services, keeping him in tow, if only to help Porzingis, should be a no-brainer.
