NBA Rumors: Knicks believe Carmelo Anthony wants to play with Jose Calderón
Earlier in the week, the New York Knicks pulled off a trade.
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The Knicks sent center Tyson Chandler and point guard Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks for point guard Jose Calderón, swingman Wayne Ellington, center Samuel Dalambert, point guard Shane Larkin and two second round picks that wound up being former Wichita State Shockers’ swingman Cleanthony Early and Greek swingman Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the brother of Milwaukee Bucks’ wing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Not only did the Knicks dump Raymond Felton and acquire the picks they were desperate for but they dumped point guard Raymond Felton, who has a terrible season for the Knicks. Acquiring Calderón gives the Knicks a big upgrade at point guard, something they certainly needed.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Knicks believe Anthony would love to play with Calderón.
"Sources told ESPN.com this week that the Knicks swung their trade with the Mavericks to send out Chandler and the out-of-favor Raymond Felton to bring back a clutch of veterans in return — headlined by point guard Jose Calderón — in their belief that Anthony would relish the prospect of playing with the Spaniard. Calderon has been a perimeter threat and a beloved teammate everywhere he’s played."
This is one of the reasons the Knicks are becoming more and more confident in retaining Anthony.
Anthony put up 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and shot 45.2% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 84.8% from the free throw line last season. Calderon put up 11.4 points, 4.7 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45.6% from the field, 44.9% from beyond the arc and 82.5% from the free throw line last season.