DALLAS — Carmelo Anthony hopes for the best for his buddy, point guard Chris Paul, and his injured shoulder, but doesn’t expect to be by his side this season, calling the possibility “stupid and silly.’’
Anthony, a free agent this summer, joked about the report the Knicks had internal discussions about trading Anthony to Los Angeles for Blake Griffin. The Knicks found the report “extremely silly’’ considering their efforts are fully on getting Anthony to re-sign. Clippers coach Doc Rivers called the report “so stupid.’’
Back in 2010, at Anthony’s wedding, there was a toast from Paul about he, Melo and Amar’e Stoudemire uniting in New York. But the Knicks blew their ability to have cap space in the summer of 2012 after acquiring center Tyson Chandler.
“Everybody talks about it,’’ Anthony said of one day playing with Paul. “Back to the USA team [in 2008]. Those three guys did it [LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh]. It happens. Everybody always says they want to play with this guy and that guy. But me and Chris have been rumored since he [came] to the NBA. There’s always been trade rumors trying to get us together. It never happened. Like [a Post report] said, it was stupid and silly.’’
The Post reported in Thursday’s editions if Anthony decided on Los Angeles, he’d choose the Clippers over the Lakers, who have the required cap space but are coached by Mike D’Antoni. The Knicks have no intentions of trading Anthony unless forced into a sign-and-trade this summer if they stand to lose him for no compensation.
Meanwhile Paul is out with a separated shoulder.
“I talked to him, I haven’t seen him,’’ Anthony said. “Take it from me. That shoulder is nothing to play around with. He wants to take his time. That definitely can linger and carry on.’’
There was concern Anthony could be bothered by the torn left shoulder he suffered in the playoffs last May. But he rehabbed it, avoided surgery and all has gone well — except for his recent ankle sprain that has him less than 100 percent.
“I am surprised,’’ Anthony said of his shoulder being pain-free. “Especially the way the shoulder was torn in two different places. I’m surprised even now.’’
Anthony often is seen icing his shoulder after games.
“I’m getting older, man’’ Anthony said. “You want ice. Ice has become my best friend.’’
He said his ankle still has an “ache’’ in it, but managed to promote his new sneaker — the same thing that had that Twitter fan so angry at Melo on New Year’s Eve.
“Actually I would’ve messed my ankle more if I didn’t have those on,’’ Anthony said.
Presumably, he was kidding.