NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony on Grizzlies’ Trade Watch; Can Melo Fit In?
Carmelo Anthony is currently the best player in a struggling New York team. And as the Knicks continue to "rebuild" and consistently miss the postseason year after year, rumors of Melo bolting to another city continue to increase. Of those rumored destinations, Memphis Grizzlies remain as the top pick for the prized forward.
Anthony inked a $124 million, 5-year contract with the Knicks last 2014, so acquiring him through 2016's free agency is out the picture. Memphis, though, remains an enticing destination for Melo, and is also an attractive trade partner for the Knicks. Beale Street Bear points out that Memphis has enough talent to deal with the Knicks, like expiring contracts from reliable bench players Jeff Green and Matt Barnes, and a solid starter in Courtney Lee.
Still, there are no NBA trade rumors Carmelo Anthony confirmed; Memphis Grizzlies fan radar are just buzzing because of the possibility of adding the star into their roster. On paper, Melo fits the team perfectly: he can start alongside Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, and they will easily be the biggest "Big Three" in the NBA. Melo's ability to score at-will both in the paint or in the perimeter gives point guard Mike Conley more offensive options.
Carmelo was never considered a defensive stalwart, and his current and previous teams relied heavily on him for offense. This is not an issue for Memphis, highly considered as one of the top defensive teams in the league according to Hoopshabit. Melo could have his way with the offense, without worrying about defending against opponents.
This is not the first time that Carmelo attracted the interest of Grizzlies fans. Last year before Melo officially re-signed with New York, Rant Sports made a strong case on how and why Carmelo would fix the Grizzlies. With the NBA season drawing near, it will only take months to confirm or dispel this rumor. If ever Carmelo Anthony decides to leave the hapless Knicks halfway through the season, he can always choose a better team like the Memphis Grizzlies.
