Report: New York Knicks, Houston Rockets re-engage Carmelo Anthony trade talks

The New York Knicks and Houston Rockets reportedly heated up (and then cooled down) trade talks for All-Star Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony back in July.

Now it seems a potential trade is back on the front burner again.

ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Rockets and Knicks are once again discussing a trade that would put Anthony in Houston, but as with the last round of trade talks, at least one other team will need to join the deal to get Anthony to Texas.

Here’s more from Wojnarowski’s report on the trade talks:

The New York Knicks and Houston Rockets have re-engaged on trade talks involving 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony, with the Rockets again canvassing third-team trade partners to construct a deal, league sources told ESPN.

Anthony remains steadfast that he only plans to waive his no-trade clause for the Rockets and refuses to expand his list to include more possible destinations, league sources said.

Nevertheless, no pathway has emerged for a deal directly between the two teams, and finding a broader package to include forward Ryan Anderson and the three years and $60 million left on his contract remains problematic, league sources said.

Houston and New York made significant progress on a deal when Phil Jackson was Knicks president, but that changed with the hiring of new general manager Scott Perry, who has been far more particular about the package he’d want in return for Anthony.

Aside from the Rockets’ interest in Anthony, the Portland Trail Blazers are trying to stay in the mix for him as well, Wojnarowski reports:

Portland has kept an interest in Anthony, with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum continuing to recruit Anthony to consider the Blazers as an alternative to Houston, league sources said.

The Knicks have become willing again to make an Anthony deal before the start of training camp in September, especially after Anthony made it clear that the franchise’s hopes of getting him to embrace a return to the team — after months of Jackson’s pushing for Anthony to waive his no-trade — are fruitless.

…

Anthony had an earlier interest in waiving his no-trade for Cleveland, but that desire waned with Paul’s arrival in Houston and the upheaval surrounding Kyrie Irving’s and LeBron James’ futures with the Cavaliers.