The New York Knicks are set to land restricted free agent Tim Hardaway Jr. This deal is reportedly going to help them in trade discussions regarding Carmelo Anthony and the Houston Rockets.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports the deal “is expected to trigger a renewed willingness to work with the Houston Rockets on trade scenarios to unload Anthony.”
Wojnarowski also noted the Knicks “do not imagine a scenario where Hardaway is sharing the floor with Anthony to start the season.”
Even after Phil Jackson’s departure, it seems like the Knicks are desperate to unload Anthony, who doesn’t figure into the team’s long-term plans. The Knicks, who haven’t had a winning season since the 2012-13 campaign, are looking at completely revamping their roster.
Derrick Rose won’t be back, Anthony will likely be gone and you know the Knicks will unload Joakim Noah if they can find a buyer.
The Knicks want to build around Kristaps Porzingis, and that’s the smart move.
Quite honestly, they won’t be able to completely do this if Anthony is still on the roster. At the age of 33, the 10-time All Star is still a potent scorer, but he’s clearly coming to the tail end of his career.
Anthony has reportedly said he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Rockets, who reportedly believe they can land him.
We already know the Atlanta Hawks aren’t interested in matching New York’s $71 million offer sheet to Hardaway Jr. This means the team will likely aggressively engage in trade talks, and that Anthony almost certainly will be moved in the near future.