For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the NBA offseason has been far less exciting than what many had hoped for. Stars that were once rumored to be headed to Cleveland have since ended up on different teams, and the free-agency pool continues to thin.
Hope is not lost, however, as league sources have reportedly told ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski that 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony is open to waiving the no-trade clause in his current contract with the New York Knicks if either the Houston Rockets or Cavaliers are able to create a viable deal.
The Rockets have reportedly sought to deal for Anthony since trading for All-Star point guard Chris Paul, but it seems Anthony’s ideal destination is still Cleveland.
“Cleveland has remained a preferred destination for Anthony because of the presence of LeBron James,” Wojnarowski wrote.
While Melo’s willingness to waive his no-trade clause is good news, the Cavs front office would certainly prefer for Anthony to be granted a contract buyout, which would allow him to get out of his current two-year, $54 million contract. Wojnarowski also reported that Anthony could lower or waive his trade kicker that could pay him an additional $8 million in the event of a trade, making it more likely for a deal to go through.
Questions remain as to whether the Cavaliers have the necessary assets or cap space to trade for Anthony, but it appears that the two sides are committed to exploring all possible options to get a deal done.
