The only talk Carmelo Anthony wants to hear is trade talk.
One day after the Knicks’ new management team stated Anthony potentially could return, it appears he still has no desire to talk with Knicks president Steve Mills and new general manager Scott Perry about that possibility.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who commented on the Knicks’ situation during a “SportsCenter” appearance Tuesday morning, Anthony “has made it clear to [the Knicks]: I want to go to Houston. I am not interested in talking to you about being reincorporated back into this New York roster.”
According to an NBA source, the Knicks have yet to restart talks with the Rockets after breaking them off Friday.
The Knicks are in complete rebuild mode, but management does not know if it can make a sensible deal to send Anthony to the Rockets. Sources told The Post that Anthony’s camp is pushing hard for a Rockets trade to Houston. It still is unclear if Anthony will agree to a general meet-and-greet session with Perry.
A source also told The Post the Rockets are undeterred by the franchise being put up for sale Monday and will continue their pursuit of uniting Anthony with his buddies Chris Paul and James Harden. Anthony has $56 million left on his pact, but with an opt-out after this season.
Mills and Perry want to meet with Anthony, who has a no-trade clause, to gauge his temperature and see if he would be willing to expand his wish list beyond the Rockets and Cavaliers. Suggestions that the Knicks are trying to convince Anthony to remain a Knick are exaggerated, as they try to focus on, as Mills said Monday, “youth, athleticism and defense.’’
There was no indication if Anthony is willing to expand his list, meaning this latest Melodrama could drag on. The Blazers and Suns are said to have some interest in getting involved in a bid for Anthony.
The Blazers originally were brought into talks to take Ryan Anderson’s $60 million contract in a three-team deal but balked, crashing negotiations.
It also was reported the Rockets are prepared for the idea that “these negotiations with the Knicks could run through August, September, into possibly the start of training camp as New York tries to rebuild Melo’s value.”
Despite his no-trade clause, Anthony doesn’t have much leverage. If he holds out of training camp, it would cost him only money. The Knicks no longer are in win-now mode, so they would be prepared to play Tim Hardaway Jr. at shooting guard and Courtney Lee at Anthony’s small-forward spot.
Though the “tanking” word obviously was not used Monday, euphemisms abounded. The Knicks’ primary objective is not securing a top-eight seed next season, that entering another lottery wouldn’t be harmful. There was no mention of competing for a playoff spot — just developing a young core with a renewed “focus on player development.’’
Mills twice invoked the draft, saying the team would “take advantage of the fact we have our draft picks moving forward.” Next year’s draft will contain two potential game-changers — Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr. and Luka Doncic of the EuroLeague, both of whom can play small forward.
“It will take longer to do,” Mills said of a rebuild. “But I think it’s something the fans of New York are ready for and will accept.”
There isn’t a way Anthony wants to waste a year as a mentor at age 33 with a year or two of his late prime slipping away.
On Monday, Mills, in contrast to former president Phil Jackson’s mantra, said, “I think we will be a good developing team if Carmelo is part of the team. We’ll be a good developing team if he isn’t. We’ll be in constant communication with Carmelo and his camp, and we’ll come to some resolution that works well for both us.”
Mills added there was “no set timeline for this,” and the club would not consider buying him out.
Jackson’s final wish was to buy out Anthony in a move he considered addition by subtraction.
Using a stretch provision in the buyout would have gained the Knicks $15 million of cap space this summer, but also would’ve had Anthony’s salary taking up cap space for five years.