Panic rose within the New York Knicks fanbase when it was reported that Carmelo Anthony was so frustrated with the Knicks that would waive his no-trade clause to move on. Anthony certainly has the right to be frustrated with the team as they have just four wins on the season. However, according to Anthony he is fully committed the New York Knicks and has no intentions of heading anywhere.
Talking to the media on Friday morning, Anthony quickly shot down the idea that he was planning on seeking a trade from the Knicks in the near future.
"Come on, man. After all the work I did to get here and get back here? If I was to get up and want to leave now that would just make me weak, make me have a weak mind," Anthony said, via ESPNNewYork.com "I've never been a person to try to run from any adversity or anything like that so I'm not going to pick today to do that."
The New York Post reported that if team president Phil Jackson could find a deal for Anthony to a team that he likes, the star would waive his no-trade clause and move on from New York. Anthony was courted by several teams in free agency before ultimately having his own "coming home" moment and returning to the Knicks to the tune of five years and $124 million.
The Knicks have lost 10 straight games and while some expected the team to be bad this year, no one expected this. Anthony's comments recently did not help speculation that he was eyeing an exit. He had said he never wanted to relive the 2013-14 season which saw New York out of the playoffs. This year is starting off much worse. He also said that the Chicago Bulls were a better team for him to win on, but he decided to stay with the Knicks. Naturally, when the trade reports first surfaced, the Bulls were the first team mentioned, but they would have to give up players like Taj Gibson or Jimmy Butler as a result.
Anthony is not going anywhere, but the same cannot be said for players like JR Smith or Amar'e Stoudemire and potentially Jose Calderon if Jackson has his ways. The Knicks will seek out deals before the trade deadline, but it will not be of Anthony.
