NBA Trade Rumors: New York Knicks want to make trade to impress Carmelo Anthony

Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Eastern Conference forward Carmelo Anthony (7) of the New York Knicks before the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Knicks seem to be very bi-polar when it comes the their confidence level that Carmelo Anthony will return in 2014-15 and be with the team long-term. After sounding like they wouldn’t be making a move at the NBA All-Star Game, the Knicks have kicked it into high gear, going from scoffing at trade talks to being in preliminary talks for a three-team blockbuster.

According to Marc J. Spears, all this flexing is stemming from the fact that the Knicks are insecure about how Carmelo Anthony sees them and they want to prove they are committed to putting a winning team on the court right now.

"New York is trying to make a deal before the trade deadline to show Carmelo Anthony they’re serious about improving."

We’ve heard this as motivation in the past, and it makes a lot of sense. While it’s abundantly clear that Melo loves living in New York, he wants to win there too and that all starts with the front office. A willingness now to get big pieces proves that if Melo re-signs, the team will go out and make free agent waves.

At least that’s the message that seems to be coming across, and it’s far from a bad one for New York to be sending out.

Home/NBA