Carmelo Anthony: Potential Hornets Trade Target?

Sep 25, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Nicolas Batum (5) during media day at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

1. The cost is manageable
According to the NBA Trade Machine on ESPN, Anthony is making $22.4 million and has four years left on his current deal. That means the Hornets would have to match that salary amount. That could be done with Nicolas Batum (13.8 million) and the expiring deal of Marvin Williams (7 million). There is still some wiggle room there, so the Knicks might ask for an additional player or draft picks if there is someone that they like. The guys who would fit that tiny gap would be PJ Hairston or Frank Kaminsky.

Alternatively the Knicks could try and dump the salary of Jose Calderon on the Hornets. Instead of Kaminsky or Hairston, now the Hornets would be losing Brian Roberts and Spencer Hawes to make the numbers work. That might be the more likely scenario as the Knicks would have gained two expiring deals (Williams and Roberts) for more flexibility next summer. Yes, the Hornets would be stuck with Calderon.

Anthony’s deal looks big now, but he actually hit his money too early. When the salary cap jumps next year, his contract will look more digestible than it does right now.

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