Carmelo Anthony rumors: Camp optimistic a deal will be completed

Carmelo Anthony‘s camp is optimistic that a deal will be completed sometime this week.

Now that Kyrie Irving‘s trade request has been granted and finalized, the final question of the offseason is centered around Carmelo Anthony.

The disgruntled star has no desire to play out another entire season in New York. Carmelo is ready to move on from the Knicks, and the feeling in mutual.

A few months ago, reports surfaced that a deal for the Knicks’ star was at the “two-yard line,” but obviously there was a penalty on the play.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, the deal would’ve been completed if the Knicks wouldn’t have fired Phil Jackson. Obviously, moving a star player is a big deal, and after perhaps the most important person left the negotiation table, the deal fell through.

Also, Frank Isola reported that Camp Melo expects the perennial All-Star to be moved by Monday, before the start of training camp.

“Anthony’s camp is cautiously optimistic that a deal will be struck before Monday, and trying not to think about the potential media circus that will take place if Carmelo is still with the Knicks. Two weeks ago, Carmelo’s wife, La La, said the family thought a trade would have been completed by now.

Mentally, Carmelo and his family have moved on to Houston. Reality is another story. Hopefully, Mills and Perry will have the right answers when they address the media on Friday because the Carmelo issue isn’t going away until he goes away.”

What’s the hold up?

In order for the Rockets to absorb Anthony’s $26 million salary, they have to move Ryan Anderson. The Knicks are in the rebuilding stage, and they’re looking for young players, so the 29-year-old Anderson doesn’t fit the mold. He’s also owed $60 million over the next three years, which could make him hard to trade in the future, as the Rockets are finding out now.

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Carmelo Anthony still has his no-trade clause, and he won’t waive it unless it’s a one-way ticket to Houston.

Besides all of the trade rumors, the NBA universe lit up when ESPN ranked Anthony at No. 64 on their #NBArank list. Melo isn’t in his prime anymore, but you’d be hard-pressed to name 63 players that are better than Anthony. Even Lonzo Ball finished ahead of Carmelo, even though he hasn’t played in an NBA game.

Despite the rough summer, Carmelo has kept himself busy in the gym. “Hoodie Melo” has become a social media sensation and it has certainly increased Melo’s popularity over the summer. He’s been video taped playing pickup basketball with NBA superstars like LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

Carmelo Anthony will march into his 15th NBA season in good shape, with a new perspective and hopefully, with a new team.

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