Charlotte Hornets: Another Carmelo Trade Option?

Apr 6, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives against Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker (15) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives against Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker (15) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) controls the ball against Charlotte Hornets small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

So here’s how it would work:

Hornets send:

Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Knicks send: Carmelo Anthony

Hornets draft Zach Collins from Gonzaga at number eleven in the draft

Resulting Rotation –

C Zach Collins

PF Marvin Williams

SF Carmelo Anthony

SG Nicolas Batum

PG Kemba Walker

Key Reserves

G Ramon Sessions

C/F Frank Kaminsky

C Miles Plumlee

G Jeremy Lamb

G Marco Belinelli

The problem is the depth issue at the small forward position is not resolved and the best Hornets defender would be gone.

More from Old North Banter

There are additional problems as well since the Knicks probably have a set agenda for what a Carmelo trade looks like. Their preferred landing destinations would teams like the Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics. The Lakers have a number of young prospects while Boston has a hoard of draft picks. The Knicks would want those kind of things and the Hornets just have their own normal pick allotments to supplement a trade.

The final problem is Carmelo himself. Anthony and his wife enjoy big city living. New York is great for that. Los Angeles would also be great for that. Charlotte is not on that level of media exposure. Since Carmelo has one of the few no-trade clauses in the league, he gets final say on where he ends up.

Next: Rich Cho Gets Extension

Still, this is the kind of move that would show that Cho knows how desperate he is and that the Hornets are still committed to winning sooner rather than later.