NBA trade rumors: Thunder and Carmelo Anthony are ‘circling each other’

Carmelo Anthony could head West to team up with Russell Westbrook and Paul George in Oklahoma City.

The Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes just got a little more interesting. While the Houston Rockets have been front runners for the troubled New York Knicks forward for a month now, another team has entered the mix.

According to The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, the Oklahoma City Thunder have reached out in some capacity regarding Anthony.

Troy Weaver, Oklahoma City’s assistant general manager, played a huge role in recruiting Anthony to Syracuse. Weaver, Syracuse’s assistant coach at the time, was the one who urged head coach Jim Boeheim to scout Anthony in high school and is widely credited as the guy who delivered Anthony to the Orange.

The Thunder already made a huge splash this offseason, acquiring Paul George from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. They also signed power forward Patrick Patterson to a three year deal to be the team’s starter.

Any deal involving Anthony to Oklahoma City would likely mean Enes Kanter going the other way just for salary purposes. Kanter makes $17.8 million a way while Anthony is scheduled to earn $26.2 million this season. The Thunder would have to shed another $3 million in the deal to make the trade work. Kyle Singler’s $4.6 million works, but he’s also Kyle Singler.

Before talks go any further, the Knicks would need to make sure that Anthony is willing to waive his no trade clause. It’s been previously reported that he would only waive the clause for Houston or Cleveland, but a chance to team up with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and George might be too good for him to pass up.

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Oklahoma City is still trying to convince Westbrook to sign the five-year supermax this offseason. Acquiring another star with the ability to score at will would be another sign that the Thunder are all in for Westbrook.