NBA: Carmelo Anthony, Knicks Both Need To Move On From Each Other

Carmelo Anthny says he doesn’t intend on waiving his no trade clause; wants to complete his NBA career with the Knicks. Here’s why that’s a huge mistake

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Carmelo Anthony is hands down one of the most polarizing players in the NBA today. He was beloved early in his career, to now widely disliked and categorized as the NBA’s most overrated player. It’s actually quite amazing to watch the transformation of his career over 12 years.

He started off as the “other guy” in LeBron James‘ draft. The guy that had just won an NCAA Championship for Syracuse. The guy that did it the right way by going to college first, before entering the NBA draft. He was also the guy that would go third overall, after LeBron and Darko Milicic but before Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

He played for a mid-market team and led them to a Western Conference Finals appearance. Then, it all went down hill.

Instead of waiting until he became an unrestricted free agent, Melo forced his hand in 2011. He all but demanded a trade out of Denver. He was eventually dealt to the New York Knicks right before the trade deadline. Melo and Amar’e Stoudemire, who had just signed in New York during the summer of 2010, were supposed to lead the New York Knicks back to the top of the NBA mountain. They were supposed to be the saviors for an otherwise marginal franchise.

However, that never happened.

Usually, when championship windows close and when the gutting of the roster begins, the star player almost always exists as well. The exact opposite happened for Melo.

Blame injuries or the absence of a competent front office, but that window – as small as it was – is closed. Stoudemire is now with the Miami Heat, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert are with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyson Chander resides in Phoenix and Mike D’Antoni is out of a job.

The only issue is that Carmelo Anthony, somehow, is still with the Knicks.

Usually, when championship windows – boy, am I giving the Knicks a lot of credit for those first few years of Melo in a New York uniform – close and when the gutting of the roster begins, the star player almost always exists as well. The exact opposite happened for Melo.

Even when HE had the opportunity to do so, without any repercussions from the fan base, during free agency, Melo CHOSE to remain on the Knicks. And while it could be argued that the only reason he did decide to stick with the Knicks was because of the dollar figures, he still chose the bed he’s laying in. That’s irrelevant in this situation.

Melo chose to remain with the Knicks and the Knicks chose to give Melo the “max” deal that he was offered. It was a mutual agreement. Thus, instead of handing out blame to a single side, they’re both wrong.

MELO

The funny thing about Carmelo Anthony is that he probably doesn’t realize how bad the Knicks are right now, despite their above average summer. The Knicks are probably 5-10 years – if Kristaps Porzingis pans out and they can hit a few doubles and triples in free agency – away from being true contenders in the NBA. Unless, of course, they can convince Kevin Durant to take his talents to New York. Short of that, the Knicks aren’t close to contending. Melo believes otherwise.

OR he’s perfectly intent on making his millions of dollars without actually doing any substantial winning in the NBA.

Melo has played in 66 playoff games in his career. Of those games, only six of those contests have taken place beyond the second round. In other words, Melo has only made it to the Conference Finals once and out of the first round twice (including that run to the Conference Finals).

Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to jump on board of a team that is close to contending, and possibly becoming the “final piece” for a team like the Chicago Bulls, Melo decided that he wanted to remain in New York.

Theoretically, if he honestly wants to win in the NBA, he made a huge mistake. And he isn’t doing himself any favors by continually trying to convince himself – and the New York fan base – that the Knicks can turn it around in the amount of time he has left in the NBA.

"[via New York Daily News]“Hell no,” Anthony said when asked if he’d consider a trade."

KNICKS

The fact that Carmelo Anthony is intent on remaining with the Knicks makes Phil Jackson‘s job even tougher. Jackson, even if he wants to deal Melo and potentially accelerate the team’s rebuilding process, can’t fully move forward until Melo is no longer on the roster.

Melo is a great teammate (probably) and does a lot for the organization. Heck, he gave some of his best prime years to the team, but the Knicks can’t believe that they’re ever going to win a Championship will Melo being their best player. If it hasn’t happened yet, it isn’t going to.