There is an inescapable hangup in every attempt the New York Knicks make to trade Carmelo Anthony: He doesn’t want to leave.
This is borderline common knowledge, but sometimes, public perception differs from what’s happening behind closed doors, or from what players tell other players. Yet, if Anthony really does want out of New York, he hasn’t told former teammates J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, now of the Cleveland Cavaliers. They believe he wants to stay put, per the New York Daily News‘ Stefan Bondy:
“Sometimes you feel like it’s just unfinished business, and I feel like that’s what it is with Melo,” said Cavs guard Iman Shumpert. “He don’t want to leave on that note.”
Echoing that sentiment, J.R. Smith brought up Anthony’s power move to the Knicks over seven years ago, when he forced a trade from Denver to the world’s biggest market.
“He does want to stay in New York. He made the effort to get to New York,” Smith said. “Granted, it hasn’t gone as well as he hoped it would. But I’m sure that’s where he wants to be.”
Anthony has been loyal to New York to a fault. His motives have always been unclear. People thought money was his driving factor to stay in 2014. Remaining close to his family has always been named a priority. He cares about his brand and off-court ubiquity, and New York is a convenient locale to build an empire. He’s stubborn; accepting a trade would suggest he was wrong to force his way to the Knicks in the way he did (he was).
So much is at play, including, and especially, Anthony’s desire to spite team president Phil Jackson. The Zen Master has done nothing but drag his trade value through the mud, and as the owner of a no-trade clause, Anthony has the ability to stick this out until his contract runs off the books, either after this season (early termination option) or in 2019.
Plus, let’s face it: Where is Anthony going that allows him to compete with the Golden State Warriors? The Cavaliers have no room for him, the Los Angeles Clippers are faux contenders and the Boston Celtics don’t need a scorer like him if the plan is to keep Isaiah Thomas and chase big-name free agents.
Knowing this, it is more convenient for Anthony to stay put. There’s no sense adding yet another switch to your resume when the resulting home doesn’t give you the opportunity you’d want to leave New York in the first place—a chance to compete for a title.
