Two pieces of news came out Tuesday, which appear to make the Cleveland Cavaliers’ chances of acquiring Carmelo Anthony or Dwyane Wade less likely than they would have been 24 hours prior.
The bigger news involves the New York Knicks’ decision to part ways with Phil Jackson. Jackson wanted Melo out of New York at all costs, while Knicks owner James Dolan preferred a trade over a buyout.
Ramona Shelbourne’s report indicates the Knicks have no intentions of a buyout going forward.
Conversations about what was best for the team’s future between Jackson and Dolan accelerated this week when the franchise decided it would not buy out embattled forward Carmelo Anthony, sources said.
Anthony refused to waive his no-trade clause, and the Knicks were determined not to accommodate any request for a buyout. Anthony has two years worth more than $54 million remaining on his deal.
With no end to the stalemate in sight and free agency beginning on Saturday, Jackson’s discussions with Dolan accelerated late Tuesday night and the decision was made to part ways.
-ESPN Ramona Shelbourne
The Knicks are reportedly leaning towards Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri for their top front office job, according to ESPN’s new NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski and just about anyone on planet earth would be viewed as a more likable candidate to Anthony than Jackson was, but the Knicks will still have a dilemma of what to do with his contract on their hands.
If Anthony and the Knicks part ways, the more likely route would appear to be via trade at this point, but he has a No-Trade clause and can veto any offers.
From the Knicks’ standpoint, the Cavs have fewer assets than most teams to make a deal worthwhile for New York.
Meanwhile, Chicago Bulls executive president John Paxson spoke about his team’s future with Wade.
If Dwyane Wade wants to play elsewhere heading in 2017-18, Bulls executive vice president John Paxson made it clear that the former All-Star will have to give back a chunk of the $23.8 million player option that he opted into last week.
“As far as a buyout, it has not been broached. I will say this, that in this type of scenario, it would have to benefit us. It would absolutely have to benefit us. Dwyane was a great pro last year, and he’s been around a lot of different situations,” Paxson said. “He was in Miami when they had a couple rebuilding years as well. So right now we’re operating under the assumption that he’ll be here. But like I said, if that subject is ever broached by them, then it would have to be advantageous for us.”
So what does all this mean for the Cavs? It appears Wade and Anthony are both less likely to come to Cleveland than they would have been otherwise.
The Cavs are reportedly still discussing options to acquire Paul George, via a three-team trade, but Boston is also in the mix and has more assets to make a deal worthwhile for Indiana.
Cleveland still doesn’t have a team president or “real” GM, so this situation is looking as cloudy as ever for the 2017-18 offseason.
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