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Knicks Trade Rumors: Five reasons to keep Carmelo Anthony

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 19: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks reacts in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 19: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks reacts in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 11: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks celebrates a second half basket with Carmelo Anthony #7 while playing the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on March 11, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Detroit won the game 112-92. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 11: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks celebrates a second half basket with Carmelo Anthony #7 while playing the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on March 11, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Detroit won the game 112-92. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. A Message To Free Agents

It would be difficult to justify winning in 2017-18, losing Carmelo Anthony a year later, and then having a core of three players who may or may not become stars. It would also be difficult to justify trading Anthony and then hoping free agents will consider New York again.

By keeping Anthony around for another season, the Knicks would send a message to prospective free agents: The mistreatment of players will not be tolerated.

By parting ways with team president Phil Jackson, the New York Knicks made it clear that team morale was important. That may have been a mere PR move, but it was the beginning of a turnaround from a free agency perspective.

By keeping Anthony in the fold for another season, it may just be enough to convince free agents that New York is no longer toxic.

Trading Anthony would mean getting a healthy return that could help reshape the future of the organization for the better. An issue may still be free agency, however, as Anthony is one of the more well-liked players in the NBA.

By keeping him around, New York would smooth things over with Kristaps Porzingis and answer the question of whether it’s Carmelo Anthony or the New York Knicks that are the true problem.

Must Read: Pros and Cons of potentially signing Shelvin Mack

The question is: How much longer will Carmelo Anthony be a member of the New York Knicks?

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