Over the weekend headlines were made when Chris Broussard reported that the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers had internal discussion about swapping Blake Griffin and Carmelo Anthony. At first glance, the move made sense from certain standpoints, but overall seemed rather crazy. Now both Anthony and Clippers head coach Doc Rivers are denying any such move will be made.
The idea the Knicks would try and trade Anthony is certainly not crazy. While the forward has said he intends to remain with New York, he also wants to test out free agency and see how much his worth is. The Knicks can offer him over $30 million more than any other team, but they will continue to make winning hard for the next few seasons given their salary cap situation. Why not trade him instead of losing him with nothing in return.
Anthony has certainly discussed joining the Clippers in the past. The rumors that he would one day team up with good friend Chris Paul has been around since the point guard entered the league in 2005. Anthony has also discussed his desire to possibly join in his own "Big 3" next season. However, he is denying any idea that the Knicks are trading him for that purpose.
"Coming up everybody talks about it," Anthony said, via the New York Daily News. "It started back with the USA team. You'd laugh and joke about it. It just so happens those three guys (with the Miami Heat) did it. Everybody says they want to play with this guy or that guy. Me and Chris have been rumored to play together since he came into the NBA. There was always a trade rumor trying to get us together and it never happened."
Broussard reported that the Clippers were the team hesitant to make a move. Griffin is having one of the best all-around seasons of his career. He is averaging 26 points and 11 rebounds in the past 10 games. With Paul out with a shoulder injury, Griffin now becomes the man for the team over the next few weeks. Those reasons alone have Rivers laughing at the idea about a trade.
"Please, this is stupid," Rivers said, via ESPN.com. "If you're the Knicks or whoever, would you want Blake Griffin? I would. So I don't see what that story is."
So for now, this blockbuster deal is going nowhere. The Knicks will focus their priorities on re-signing Anthony in the offseason to a long-term deal and then focus on getting players to join him instead of the other way around.
