Charlotte Hornets: New Hope for Carmelo Trade?
The Charlotte Hornets might be the tiniest bit closer to a potential trade for Carmelo Anthony. Tiniest bit.
Over the past week I have toyed with one of my favorite pastimes, trying to figure how to get Carmelo Anthony in the uniform of a Charlotte Hornet. It is not because Anthony was on my only attempt at an NBA Fantasy team fourteen years ago. It is because he dwells in the limbo of being theoretically available, but everyone knowing that he really is not.
Anthony seems more available than ever these days with Phil Jackson basically admitting that the roster would have to proceed without Carmelo if the triangle is to be saved. That is the closest the Knicks have ever come to putting Carmelo on the trading block.
The other hurdle to a Carmelo trade is Carmelo himself. He holds a no trade clause and has previously said that he would not forego it except for certain teams. That included the Clippers and Cavaliers, but both teams balked at the asking price at last year’s trade deadline. It might also include Boston, where that kind of move would make too much sense.
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One problem with Carmelo’s no-trade clause was his preference for contenders. The other problem was his wife and his preference for living it up in a big city with plenty of exposure. It was never real clear if that was Anthony’s preference or his wife La La’s, but we can now put that idea to the test.
According to reports from TMZ, Carmelo and La La have separated and this could be the first step on the road to divorce. Either way, it means La La won’t be the determining factor on where Carmelo goes. She will likely still have input since they could fix things and they share a child, but if she was voice demanding big market presence then Carmelo might be open to more options.
More options could mean a team up with Kemba Walker in Charlotte. Anthony might be wary, his alliances with Allen Iverson and later Derrick Rose did not get anywhere. He would have to be sold on the viability of Nick Batum as the third man and that Michael Jordan had a plan to reach a title. Considering Carmelo’s less than satisfactory relationship with Phil Jackson, Jordan may not have the appeal he might have had.
The draft will come before any potential trade as Cody Zeller’s new deal will likely be part of negotiations as opposed to his current one. A splashy draft might help win Anthony over, though it is hard to point to one player that Anthony would be thrilled by.