Carmelo Anthony Still Open to Joining LeBron James

ESPN’s Marc Stein reported Wednesday afternoon that the Cleveland Cavaliers rejected a trade offer from the New York Knicks involving Kevin Love for Carmelo Anthony.

Before Wednesday night’s Knicks-Mavericks game in Dallas, Anthony told Stefan Bondy of New York Daily News he was open to teaming up with LeBron James in the future.

Anthony responded to a question about LeBron’s recent post-game comments, in which he said the Cavaliers “need a ************ playmaker.”

“I do think he would want me to play with him. I don’t think he wouldn’t,” Anthony said. “But I don’t know if that comment is about me. I don’t think I’m the only playmaker in the NBA.”

Anthony also dismissed the notion that if he joined LeBron, it would be another example of a “ring chaser.”

“I don’t think it would be called chasing a ring. It would be looking at opportunities and situations if and when that time do come. It will be a collective effort on all fronts. Not just mine. It would be a collective effort on the organization and understanding the direction they want to go.”

Anthony met with Knicks President Phil Jackson last week and was asked if he got the feeling Jackson wanted him to stay in New York long-term.

“It was a quick meeting,” said Anthony. “That’s all I can say.”

That doesn’t sound too reassuring that Melo is a part of the organization’s long-term plans.

Anthony would have to waive his no-trade clause and it was recently reported that he would waive that clause to go to either Cleveland or the Los Angeles Clippers.

However, the Cavs don’t have the assets, save for Love, that the Knicks would likely be looking for.

Barring any major turn in the path of the Cavaliers’ direction, it’s hard to see Melo coming to Cleveland any time soon.

He is signed through the end of the 2018-19 season and will be 34 heading into to 2019-20.

Perhaps he, LeBron, or other Cavaliers would be willing to take a paycut for him to join the Cavs at that point, but a lot can happen between now and then.

If he were to continue making his current salary, it would be upwards of $27 mil. per season in 2019.