Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros, Cons Of Not Trading Carmelo Anthony

Pro: Mentoring Kristaps Porzingis

Whether or not you like the way Carmelo Anthony plays the game, he’s done an outstanding job as a mentor to Kristaps Porzingis. He took Porzingis under his wing in 2015-16, has done the same with Mindaugas Kuzminskas in 2016-17, and is heralded by his teammates as a leader.

Anthony must execute at a higher level on the court, but there’s no way around how instrumental he’s been in the development of Porzingis.

Anthony has helped Porzingis and Kuzminskas improve their proficiency in isolation, as well as their confidence as shooters. He’s also responsible for drawing the assignment of scoring against the opposition’s best defensive player.

In turn, he alleviates the burden from his teammates and enables players like Porzingis to attack with less resistance.

Off the court, Anthony’s presence protects Porzingis from criticism for any cold stretches he may endure. It’d be irrational to expect a second-year player to lead New York to a title, but rational thinking isn’t always present in sports debates.

Anthony protects Porzingis both on and off the court, which is something that cannot be overvalued in his development process.

Must Read: Five reasons to move Carmelo Anthony to power forward

Anthony plans to see his Knicks contract through. It’s time for both he and the front office to take accountability.