The New York Knicks reportedly want rid of Carmelo Anthony.
But Carmelo Anthony may not want rid of New York.
As far back as January, it was being reported that Knicks President Phil Jackson wanted to trade Anthony, who has a no-trade clause.
According to the New York Daily News, the Knicks would still like to shift Anthony's contract or else buy him out—a scenario that would make it far easier for the Cleveland Cavaliers to acquire him.
But Anthony, 32, a 10-time All-Star, is reportedly "reluctant" to move out of his native New York City because that would mean living away from his only son.
That would put Los Angeles out of the frame as a potential destination and raises the possibility that Anthony could remain in New York even though the Knicks and Jackson no longer want him, like some middle-aged son still living, resented, in the family home. It's worth noting, however, that a "trade kicker" clause in Anthony's contract will bump his pay if he does agree to be moved on.
If the Knicks buy him out, then he gets paid too and maybe finds a team like the Cavaliers on the precipice of another championship. Either way, it seems Anthony holds the cards.
July 1 is a huge date for the Oklahoma City Thunder. That's the day they will try to offer newly crowned MVP Russell Westbrook a "super max" contract extension that will make him the NBA's highest-paid player.
But what if Westbrook doesn't want to sign that five-year extension worth more than $200 million because he doesn't think the Thunder can build a team around him to win a championship?
That's the nightmare scenario reported by CBS, which raises the possibility that Westbrook could walk away from the Thunder in the summer of 2018.
Westbrook can't earn the money on offer from the Thunder anywhere else, but he could be in a better position to win hardware.
Could the Thunder lose two superstars in two years? It promises to be a nervous wait until July 1 for OKC fans.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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