Carmelo Anthony does not appear to be worried about trade rumors.
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Carmelo Anthony got a chance to address this weekend’s swirling trade rumors for the first time before Sunday’s game in Dallas. And he isn’t planning on heading to the West Coast anytime soon.
ESPN reported Friday night the Knicks and Clippers had “internal discussions” about trading Blake Griffin for Anthony. The report was dismissed on all fronts Sunday.
“Me and [Clippers point guard] Chris [Paul] have been rumored to play together since he came into the NBA,” Anthony told reporters after yesterday’s shootaround. “There were always trade rumors to try to get us together. It never happens.”
While Anthony was good-natured in his dismissal of the rumors, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was much more hostile on Saturday.
“It’s just stupid,” Rivers said of the ESPN report. “My whole issue with any of that crap — that network, to me, reports a story they created.”
Anthony, 29, would be a free agent after the season if he does not choose to exercise his $23.5 million player option with the Knicks.
But reports by the Daily News indicate the Knicks, and specifically owner Jim Dolan, want to re-sign the 11-year veteran.
Anthony has played well in the two games since returning from an ankle injury on Jan. 2. He had 27 points and 12 rebounds in that surprise win over the Spurs and 25 points and eight rebounds in a two-point loss to the Rockets on Friday. He is now averaging 26.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
The 24-year-old Griffin, in his fourth season in the league, is averaging 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season.
Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.
