The New Zealand NBA basketball player Steven Adams may have a new all-star teammate.
The New York Knicks have agreed to trade 10-time All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to multiple reports.
Carmelo Anthony. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Thunder will send center Enes Kanter, forward Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick via the Chicago Bulls to the Knicks, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 33-year-old Anthony will waive his no-trade clause and his 11 million dollar trade kicker to accommodate the deal, according to ESPN.
A trade call is scheduled for early this week to finalize the deal with the league office, sources said.
Anthony previously told the Knicks he would only waive his no-trade clause for the Thunder, Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Anthony joins MVP Russell Westbrook and newly acquired All-Star forward Paul George in the reshaped Western Conference contender. Both players reportedly played a significant role in recruiting Anthony to waive his no-trade clause.
The Thunder are making a major commitment with the deal, incurring 37 million dollars in luxury tax for the 2017-18 season.
Anthony has two years and 74 million dollars left on his contract, including a player option for 38 million on the 2018-19 season.
Talks between Thunder general manager Sam Presti and Knicks GM Scott Perry intensified in 24 hours before today's agreement, league sources told ESPN.
Anthony could take part in the start of Thunder training camp on Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
The Knicks said yesterday that Anthony would return to the team for the start of training camp, but an increased level of urgency began over the weekend.
Anthony had a no-trade clause as part of the maximum contract he signed in 2014 and declined a trade from the Knicks throughout the turmoil of Phil Jackson's tenure as president of basketball operations.
Anthony averaged 22.4 points on 43.3 percent shooting along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 74 games with the Knicks last season, his seventh in New York and 14th in the NBA.
-Reuters
