LOS ANGELES — Over All-Star Weekend last month, Carmelo Anthony was asked if there was a team for which he would waive his no-trade clause. Anthony paused, smiled and said he had better not answer that question.
If there indeed is one team, the Clippers are it. He owns a place in Los Angeles, where his wife, La La, spends a lot of time. The Clippers are a perennial playoff team and feature one of his best friends in point guard Chris Paul. And most importantly, the franchise has a legitimate potential trade chip in Blake Griffin, even if coach Doc Rivers declared recently he would not trade the younger balletic forward.
“My name is always associated with L.A., whether it was earlier with the Lakers, now it’s the Clippers,’’ Anthony said late Wednesday in Phoenix. “I try not to pay attention to that. I laugh it off. People always try to make scenarios and situations. But nothing’s happened.’’
As Anthony might say, “Not yet.’’ The Knicks’ embattled star will get a chance to play against the Clippers and Paul on Friday at Staples Center to begin their long LA weekend, which also includes the Lakers on Sunday in a rare trip that includes both clubs. It’s a blessing for a roster, coaching staff and brain trust with thick ties to the L.A. area.
“We need the nice weather,’’ Anthony said. “We could use the nice weather.’’
During sub-zero temperatures in Toronto during All-Star Weekend, Anthony raised eyebrows when he responded to a query on whether he would re-evaluate his future, responding, “Not yet. Not yet.” He then added he eventually will have that conversation with his “team’’ of agents.
The next day, Anthony backtracked and said firmly he’s unwilling to waive his no-trade clause. In a positive sign earlier on this trip, Anthony vowed to be a prime free-agent recruiter for the Knicks in July.
Phil Jackson’s view is unclear as he has acted like a hermit with the media this season. Sources indicate the Knicks consider rookie Kristaps Porzingis as their eventual franchise player and are trying to blend him in with the final few years of Anthony’s prime.
However, when Jackson fired Derek Fisher, he mentioned two players he wouldn’t deal, saying Porzingis was “untouchable” and noting Anthony had “a no-trade clause.’’ Jackson interestingly made no glowing mention of Anthony as the future who is “only scratching the surface of his greatness’’ — as he has said in the past.
This summer, many teams will have major cap space because of the unprecedented rise in the salary cap. That makes it much less complicated to make trades for a player such as Anthony, who makes $24 million next season. Salaries going back and forth won’t have to match up exactly, as they do when dealing with over-the-cap teams.
Nevertheless, the Knicks roster is thin in talent and would need a boatload of assets coming back, including a first-round pick, a young starter and a decent bench player. Jackson cherishes Anthony in the sense he can create his own shot when the shot clock is running down — which the triangle sorely needs. That type of player doesn’t come in bundles.
Because the Knicks probably can’t get close to equal value, it might be in their best interest to roll the dice with Anthony’s left knee, even if he’s agreeable to leaving.
“That’s a fun matchup,’’ Anthony said of facing Paul. “Even though we don’t match up against each other, playing against a West Coast team, only getting to play them twice, those are good matchups.’’
It also could be an Anthony audition. The Clippers obliterated the Knicks in the first meeting.
“I don’t think we owe anybody, but we want to go out there and build off tonight and play a different game than we did in the Garden,’’ Anthony said after Wednesday’s win over Phoenix. “We definitely want to try to win this game Friday.’’
During his free agency in 2014, Anthony sat down with Lakers brass for a Hollywood-style sales pitch. His buddy Kobe Bryant also attempted to recruit Anthony, but failed.
Now Bryant is in his final days.
“Sunday’s game [against the Lakers] will be a special moment, special game. [Bryant’s] last game against New York, my last game against him,’’ Anthony said. “It’s going to be a special moment, season’s dwindling down. It’s hard to really fathom the fact he’s going to be leaving us.’’
Coincidentally, the Cavaliers also are doing the LA trip this weekend. LeBron James, Anthony and Paul are a well-known clique.
“We might [get together], but no banana boats,’’ Anthony joked, referring to widely mocked photos from a recent group vacation. “We’ll see if the schedule permits.’’
