Knicks, Rockets working on Carmelo Anthony trade scenarios

Confirmed. Brian Windhorst did say that.

 

http://nypost.com/2017/07/12/knicks-and-rockets-move-closer-to-trade-as-pelicans-want-in/

The Rockets will hold a lavish press conference Friday to introduce Chris Paul — with guests including James Harden, coach Mike D’Antoni, GM Daryl Morey and owner Les Alexander.

Sources told The Post there will be no surprise announcement, no surprise visitor in Carmelo Anthony. Maybe that will be next week.

As much as Anthony’s camp is pressing the Knicks to complete a trade this week, nothing is imminent or expected to happen until well after the press conference, according to multiple NBA sources.

The Knicks and Rockets are getting closer, but they have work to do.

“They’re still in the middle of the process,’’ one NBA source familiar with the trade talks told The Post.

Another source told The Post over the weekend talks “stalled’’ regarding a three-team deal, and the sides had to go back to the drawing board. ESPN reported a fourth team is being solicited to inherit at least one of the contracts. A fourth team has yet to be finalized, but ESPN reported both clubs remain “motivated’’ in making this happen.

The Pelicans, once the home of Ryan Anderson, expressed interest in being one of the clubs involved, according to a source. Anderson’s three-year, $60 million contract needs to be part of this transaction since Anthony’s $27 million pact — plus trade kicker — is so immense. The Knicks have no interest in Anderson because he plays Kristaps Porzingis’ position and is older than the mid-20s-type player the club seeks.

According to sources, Knicks acting president Steve Mills is so preoccupied on trying to figure out a way to move Anthony to the Rockets in a multiteam deal that he’s unable to focus fully on landing a veteran point guard.

One goal is being able to accomplish both — getting Anthony off the roster in continuing their rebuild mode and inheriting a veteran point guard in the Anthony trade who could mentor 18-year-old rookie lottery pick Frank Ntilikina. The Knicks are aiming to trade Anthony, 33, because their philosophy is to open space for the development of their young core.

When the Rockets first approached the Knicks about a trade after landing Paul, Houston didn’t get much traction because the organization was still figuring out the post-Phil Jackson front office. But Mills has since been given the green light by owner James Dolan, as the plan is to make him the permanent president, as first reported by The Post.

While confidants say D’Antoni would approve an Anthony deal in their all-out attempt to dethrone the Warriors, the former Knicks coach also has had reservations because of their past differences in New York.

Asked if he wants to add to the roster, D’Antoni said, “There’s somebody out there” before stopping because of fear of tampering charges.

“I’ve blown enough money at the tables here,” he added.

D’Antoni has no choice since Paul and Harden lobbied for the move, and his former Denver teammate, Nene, is on board. Nene posted an Instagram on Monday of Anthony in a Rockets uniform. As reported by The Post, Anthony and Harden have already been in conversations.

Meanwhile, Paul was quoted by The Undefeated as saying, “Man, sit back and wait.”

The wait is on.​