Phil Jackson Reiterates Carmelo Anthony Should Look For Success Somewhere Else

The New York Knicks appear content with ultimately parting ways with superstar forward Carmelo Anthony this summer. Team president Phil Jackson has expressed his desire to trade Anthony when they find a trade suitor in which the veteran is willing to waive his no-trade clause.

During the NBA Draft Combine this week, Jackson was once again asked about Anthony’s future with the team. Jackson, who always seems to speak his mind, admitted he wants success for Anthony, but still believes it will be somewhere else because the Knicks aren’t contenders and probably won’t be anytime soon, via Nick Friedell and Ian Begley of ESPN:

“We’d like him to have success,” Jackson said during a break in the action at the NBA draft combine. “The opportunity is narrowing. We’d just like him to have success somewhere. We’re not going to be there. Hopefully, we’ll be maybe a playoff team next year. It would be tough to consider us a possible champion.”

The Knicks are a rebuilding team with all their efforts going toward building around the up-and-coming star, Kristaps Porzingis. Although Porzingis hasn’t been happy with the way things are being run in New York and skipped his exit interview with the team, it has recently been reported that he wants to remain in New York which obviously bodes well for the team.

As for Anthony, the star forward’s only hope at this point is that a team is willing to take on his massive contract. Anthony holds all the cards with the Knicks due to his no-trade clause, but he clearly is no longer wanted in New York, and he isn’t getting any younger.

The most likely destination may be the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers had a discussion about trading for Anthony before the NBA trade deadline, but no deal came to fruition. The two teams could reignite talks this summer, especially after another early playoff exit for Los Angeles.