Why Carmelo Anthony is Clevelands Best Option
The reality of the situation is simple, Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks are a marriage ending in a nasty divorce.
Just a few years back Phil Jackson was coming in to the Knicka organization to help change the direction and rebuild them by changing the way they think about the game both on the court and from a business standpoint — none of this has happened yet. According to Phil Jackson at the time the top priority, for obvious reasons, was Carmelo Anthony.
Anthony had a number of options that presented better opportunities to compete for a championship but the money was in New York because the franchise simply had no one else that matches Melo’s talent. Melo signed with the Knicks, a team without much hope because he was chasing dollars and not rings.
Now, three seasons have passed and the Knicks, Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony are at bitter ends with no hope of a true resolution. Jackson has called out Melo on a number of occasions and Melo himself has not been one to back down.
Phil Jackson really has not helped the move forward in any sense of the way, if anything the team is in exactly the same boat they were in when Jackson arrived. If you think he has improved the team, please feel free to let me know how?
All of this is basically information to understand why Carmelo should be on the move sooner rather than later. His relationship with his hometown club is one of uncertainty and a nasty taste of sourness. It is time for him depart and it must happen before pre-season begins.
Carmelo Anthony still has two years in his five-year $120 million contract. A buy-out is of the utmost importance.
The buy-out will give Carmelo the opportunity to sign with any team while still being paid well by the Knicks. This opportunity will bring on the idea of signing with Cleveland.
The Cavaliers just went through a series with the Warriors in which they were dominated four games to one. The one in that series was a game that Cleveland literally had to break records and play at an absolute high of their best to win. Adding a talent such as Carmelo Anthony can completely change the game and their rivalry with the Warriors.
A lot of people seem to think that the obvious option is to fade Kevin Love out of the Cavaliers in order to bring in the likes of Carmelo Anthony but this is just not true — plus why would you want to lose Kevin Love?
Melo played in more games but being the superstar of that team (Knicks) he sure wasn’t all that much better than Kevin Love, if better at all really. Take a look at how the two faired head to head in the per 36 minutes stats.
Melo really only values a little better in the scoring department and it is important to not forget that Melo is the number one scoring option compared to Kevin Love, who is the number three option.
Kevin Love is not the problem.
Carmelo Anthony needs to demand an out with the Knicks organization and then sign with Cleveland for more than just how he compares to Kevin Love. Getting Melo can take a major load off of LeBron James because Melo is a legitimate closer in games, he plays defense when he needs to and he can easily play the four position alongside ‘Bron and Love, which would move Love to the five spot.
The reason this has to happen is because Carmelo is finally at the stage of his career where the only thing that should matter is a championship ring. Anthony has put in an all-star caliber career but has never truly had a defining moment in his career — he has just been a really good player.
Melo would bring a new sense of urgency to Cleveland helping to push them mentally and physically plus they would match-up with the Golden State Warriors even better given the fact that both teams make it to the Playoffs.
Anthony does not need to go to an up and coming team like Boston or Minnesota — he needs experience and he honestly needs leadership. The place for that is Cleveland.
If this does not happen for Carmelo and the Cavaliers then I do not know what to expect for Melo as he rides out the rest of his seasons because the time is now. Carmelo to Cleveland will be the ultimate move to put Cleveland back in the drivers seat because I feel like they are very slowly slipping away especially if a team like Boston makes a right move or two.
The NBA off-season is always one of excitement — if Melo and Knicks can resolve these issues through a buy-out the off-season will heat up very quickly. Sit back and hold on.
