NEW ORLEANS — Knicks general manager Steve Mills was in town for All-Star Weekend, and it doesn’t appear he’s here to finalize divorce proceedings with Carmelo Anthony.
According to a source who has spoken to Knicks officials, the odds are heavily against the team dealing Anthony by Thursday’s deadline. Anything that’s been discussed probably has not been attractive enough, plus Anthony can block any deal that is not to Los Angeles, his preferred destination.
The Knicks may go in a different direction at the deadline with expiring contracts of veteran point guards Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings, who mysteriously sat out the last game prior to the break in Oklahoma. Jennings’ contract is moveable at just $5 million.
While Anthony indicated he hasn’t ruled out changing uniforms if the right deal is presented to him in the right city (Los Angeles), he said he “hopes’’ he’s a Knick on Thursday, when they face the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
The Vertical also reported he’s all but firm on invoking his no-trade clause. The Post reported 11 days ago Anthony told a confidant that he would stick and see if he could outlast team president Phil Jackson. The rub is James Dolan won’t fire him this summer, the owner said.
On Saturday, sounding torn, Anthony said he still “thinks about it a lot.” He even added he’s thought about “what is best for the organization’’ — an indication he even thinks the Knicks wouldn’t be off base if it’s time to rebuild and try to ensure a lottery pick this June in a solid draft.
It’s known the Knicks have had conversations with the Clippers, Cavaliers and Celtics, with Boston having the draft picks and expiring contracts to make a real deal. But nothing has materialized. The Clippers talks cooled off — presumably because it was difficult to find a team willing to take on 36-year-old Jamal Crawford’s contract.
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Anthony already was to play for Celtics coach Brad Stevens in Sunday night’s All-Star Game.
Stevens said he had no input in the Anthony selection.
“I just get told who’s on the roster,’’ Stevens said. “Carmelo has had a tremendous career. He scored the ball on everybody, every night. One of the guys you’re legitimately scared about every time you step on the court — whether at the 3 or 4. That’s a great player.”
Despite calling it a “downer’’ being asked to replace Kevin Love on the East squad, Anthony is making the best of it and said it’s “definitely therapy for me’’ being away from the Knicks organization. He had to cancel a family vacation to Cuba and Puerto Rico.
“Once I talked to family, everybody understood and they said enjoy the moment,’’ Anthony said. “You do it so many years, you still got to find the joy to come here and participate.’’
But he added: “I was a little jealous some of the pictures people were sending me. I had to shut my phone off. I was getting funny pictures of them laying out [in the sun].’’
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