Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Oklahoma City Thunder A Potential Landing Spot?

With the New York Knicks looking to trade Carmelo Anthony, the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers have appeared to be the only realistic trade partners. A new rumor, however, suggests that the All-Star might be willing to waive his no-trade clause for a third team.

According to The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, the Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as a potential trade candidate. Simmons claims that the relationship between Thunder assistant general manager Troy Weaver and Anthony could help get a deal done.

READ: LeBron James At Center Of Kyrie Irving's Trade Request

New York is limited in their options because of Anthony’s no-trade clause. They might prefer a deal with a team like the Portland Trail Blazers, but it doesn’t look like Anthony would accept a trade to the Pacific Northwest. If he has eyes on playing in Oklahoma City, it might be something the Knicks would consider since the Knicks haven’t been enamored with any packages offered by the Rockets or Cavs, and New York doesn’t seem interested in keeping Anthony.

In order for a trade to work, the Knicks would probably have to take back Enes Kanter. He’s owed $17.88 million next year and has a player option worth $18.6 million for the 2018-2019 season. Another player, perhaps Kyle Singler, would have to be added to the deal to make it acceptable under the rules of the salary cap.

Oklahoma City would likely try to add a draft pick in order to get a trade done, but even that probably wouldn’t be enough. Other than the ability to match up salaries and potentially get Anthony’s blessing, the Thunder are far from an ideal trade partner for New York.

At just 25 years old, Kanter is an efficient scorer and a good rebounder. But the center is such a liability on the defensive end that he averaged just 21.3 minutes per game last season, failing to start even one game. As an overpaid big man that’s only effective on one end of the floor, he’s not exactly a good fit on a roster that also includes Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez and Joakim Noah.

Maybe the Knicks would be more willing to take on Kanter’s contract if they could also get a first-round pick. The only problem is Oklahoma doesn’t own their 2018 or 2020 first-rounder, meaning they wouldn’t be able to send New York a No.1 pick until 2022.

Of course, a third team could get involved, potentially sweetening the pot for New York. Working out such deals, however, aren’t easy in the NBA. If they were, the Knicks would have already shipped Anthony off to Houston in a three or four-team trade.

READ: Are The Portland Trail Blazers A Legitimate Option For Carmelo Anthony?

If the Thunder do somehow find a way to acquire Anthony, it would even further establish themselves as a threat to become the best team in the Western Conference behind the Golden State Warriors. The team has already traded for Paul George, teaming him up with MVP Russell Westbrook.

Oklahoma City probably has two of the league’s 12-best players, an argument that only the Warriors, Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers could make.

Trading for Anthony and failing to have any postseason success, however, could leave the Thunder deplete of talent in 2018. Anthony, Westbrook and George can all become free agents next summer.