NBA trade rumors: Carmelo Anthony – Thunder a possibility

Looks like there is a new suitor for New York Knicks veteran small forward Carmelo Anthony and there could be mutual interest.

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons reported on Monday that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Carmelo Anthony are “officially circling each other.”

Simmons noted that Thunder vice president Troy Weaver was the man that recruited Anthony to play his college ball at Syracuse.

The Anthony trade saga has been a frustrating and exhausting one at times. The 10-time All-Star was willing to waive his no-trade clause only if he was to be dealt to either the Houston Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since Kyrie Irving made it public that he wants to be traded from the Cavaliers — with one of his preferred destinations being the Knicks — Anthony lost interest in Cleveland and wanted to go to Houston only.

Had he still been interested in joining up with LeBron James, the Knicks actually might have found the right deal with the Cavs. New York could have packaged up Anthony along with one or multiple first-round draft picks for Irving, giving the Knicks their best point guard in decades.

Prior to Irving’s trade request, neither the Rockets nor Cavaliers held assets that would have provided a beneficial return for the Knicks, which forced the interested sides to look for a third or fourth team to complete a deal.

Oklahoma City doesn’t necessarily have that much to offer the Knicks, which would make a deal unlikely unless a third and fourth team was introduced. But it is understandable why Anthony would be interested in joining the Thunder.

With reigning MVP Russell Westbrook coming off a historic season, he has been paired up with All-Star guard Paul George, who was traded from the Indiana Pacers earlier this month.

Anthony going to Oklahoma City would rival what the Rockets have put together after acquiring Chris Paul to work alongside James Harden. However, everyone would still be looking up at the Golden State Warriors.