Once upon a time, there was a legitimate point of contention about whether <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-teams-in-2022-23-nba-season-so-far-20221210-SPD-3243.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carmelo Anthony</a> or <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/how-many-records-does-lebron-james-hold-complete-list-of-the-forwards-records-in-nba-20230208-SPD-3383.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> should be the first choice in the NBA Draft. But the veteran has been out of action for some time now.



As impressive as Anthony’s career was, he appears to have been overlooked at every turn. However, when you least expect it, the 38-year-old forward may come tearing out of the tunnel.



As SportsNet New York‘s Ian Begley put it, “something to keep an eye on” is whether or if the Phoenix Suns contemplate adding Anthony to their roster. Let’s examine which squads might profit most from his presence.



<h2>3. New York Knicks</h2>



Carmelo Anthony’s return to the MSG court has been anticipated for years. His departure from the New York Knicks was a sour one, and it has even been suggested that Phil Jackson treated him wrong and made him the scapegoat.



Melo deserves more from the Knicks, who have the chance to re-sign him for the rest of the season. They are on the cusp of playoff contention and could use a seasoned veteran’s clutch shooting and playmaking abilities.



<h2>2. Miami Heat</h2>



When the trade deadline approached, Pat Riley was unable to improve his team’s squad. Even if he signed Kevin Love off the buyout market, he still has some fixing up to do in Miami.



Although Carmelo Anthony is no longer an All-Star level player, he may assist relieve some offensive pressure on Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler if the Miami Heat were to sign him this summer.



<h2>1. Phoenix Suns</h2>



NBA superstar Kevin Durant wants his club to sign Carmelo Anthony, and he generally gets what he wants. That seems to have been the case in Brooklyn, at least.



Carmelo and Chris Paul are good pals. To everyone’s delight, the duo should be able to go out on top, thus it’s fitting that the Phoenix Suns are now the favorites to win the NBA title.

NBA: Top 3 most likely destinations for free agent Carmelo Anthony - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA: Top 3 most likely destinations for free agent Carmelo Anthony

destacadas

On Wednesday, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/knicks-believed-jazz-were-trying-to-rip-someone-off-for-donovan-mitchell-charles-barkley-2728-20220911-SPD-2728.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a> arrived in Cleveland for his new season with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/jazz-send-donovan-mitchell-to-cavaliers-in-complex-trade-for-collin-sexton-2658-20220901-SPD-2658.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cavaliers</a>, and plenty of fans waited at Burke Lakefront Airport to see him. Many of his teammates and scores of supporters welcomed him when he landed in Cleveland.



Following the historic transaction that brought Mitchell to the squad, the club finally unveiled him to the public on Wednesday afternoon. At the start of September, Cleveland officially finalized the contract with the 26-year-old.



Including unprotected first-round selections in 2025, 2027, and 2029, Cleveland gave guard Collin Sexton, forward Lauri Markkanen, and rookie guard Ochai Agbaji to Utah. Moreover, in 2026 and 2028, the clubs will exchange their picks in the first round of the draft.



<h2>Donovan Mitchell believed he would be traded to Knicks</h2>



In one response, Mitchell said that he was uncertain of his future destination after a trade but anticipated playing for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-knicks-back-on-track-on-donovan-mitchell-pursuit-but-theyre-not-alone-2539-20220817-SPD-2539.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks</a> instead of the Cavs.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Honestly I had no idea. My agent called me on a Wednesday and said ‘You’re going to Cleveland.’ Like I said my reaction was what it was. All summer I didn’t really say much, I kind of just let you guys do what you do to be honest. I thought for sure I was going back home, not gonna lie about that. “But when I found out where I was headed, who I was playing with, the group, the team, the coaching staff. I couldn’t be more happier to be here, to be a part of this organization, to be a part of this group, to join these phenomenal guys and add to it. That for me is what I’m truly excited about.”</blockquote>

"I thought for sure I was going back home" - Donovan Mitchell on his failed Knicks move - thesportsdrops NEWS

"I thought for sure I was going back home" – Donovan Mitchell on his failed Knicks move

miniaturas

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/i-made-the-playoffs-last-year-they-didnt-patrick-beverley-pokes-fun-at-new-teammates-lebron-james-and-anthony-davis-2706-20220907-SPD-2706.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks</a> were considered the frontrunners to get Donovan Mitchell before he was signed to the roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the duration of the summer, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/jazz-send-donovan-mitchell-to-cavaliers-in-complex-trade-for-collin-sexton-2658-20220901-SPD-2658.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a> was a player to watch.



The 6-foot-1 combo guard wanted to play for another club after spending the previous five years with the Utah Jazz. A number of clubs expressed interest in acquiring the three-time All-Star as soon as news of Don’s desire to leave Utah began circulating.



The New York Knicks may have been the frontrunners to sign the star player. Unexpectedly, Mitchell opted to leave the San Antonio Spurs and join the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team in the Eastern Conference.



<h2>The reasons Knicks passed on acquiring Donovan Mitchell, as revealed by Charles Barkley</h2>



On Friday, Charles Barkley, a former Knicks player and current NBA pundit for TNT, chimed in on the discussions, claiming to have “inside knowledge” from Knicks senior executive William Wesley, aka World Wide Wes. Barkley said that Wesley informed him that the Jazz were seeking far more compensation than was previously known.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I’m gonna give you inside information. I actually had this conversation last night with World Wide Wes at dinner,” Barkley said. “I said, Wes, why didn’t y’all make the trade? He says, ‘Oh man. Don’t go by the media stuff. [The Jazz] wanted my wife, my kids.’“… He says, ‘We wanted the deal, obviously,’ but he said, ‘They wanted my wife, they wanted my kids, they wanted my grandkids. They were just trying to rip somebody off.’ So he says, ‘Dude, we’re gonna have to pass on it.’ And I give those guys credit, because you can’t give away everything.”</blockquote>

"Knicks believed Jazz were trying to rip someone off for Donovan Mitchell" - Charles Barkley - thesportsdrops NEWS

"Knicks believed Jazz were trying to rip someone off for Donovan Mitchell" – Charles Barkley

The 2022-23 <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-trade-rumors-nets-have-bad-news-for-kevin-durant-trade-suitors-2527-20220816-SPD-2527.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> regular season is drawing nearer but the rumor mill has been quiet as of late. <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-heat-in-need-of-third-club-to-get-donovan-mitchell-2242-20220718-SPD-2242.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a>, heavily linked with a move out of <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-jazz-get-numerous-players-in-exchange-for-rudy-gobert-from-timberwolves-1924-20220701-SPD-1924.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah</a> only a few weeks ago, has not made many headlines recently.



However, it looks like he will once again be the center of attention in the next few weeks. On Tuesday, NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Knicks have re-engaged in trade talks for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-not-willing-to-trade-talen-horton-tucker-for-patrick-beverley-of-jazz-2216-20220715-SPD-2216.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jazz</a> star.



New York was mentioned as a likely landing spot for Spida earlier this offseason, though Miami also seem to be monitoring him. Shams, meanwhile, reports that more teams have joined the queue for Mitchell.



<h2>NBA Trade Rumors: Hornets, Wizards join Knicks in the race for Donovan Mitchell</h2>



“After several weeks of no conversations, the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz recently re-engaged in trade talks centered on Donovan Mitchell, league sources tell The Athletic,” Charania wrote.



“The Knicks and Jazz had a fresh trade conversation within the past week about potential packages for Mitchell, according to sources. There is no traction between the two teams on a deal, and no Mitchell trade is imminent for the Jazz, sources said. The Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards are also among the teams pursuing Mitchell, those sources said.



“Throughout trade talks, the Knicks have made their interest in Mitchell abundantly clear, one source with knowledge of the situation said. The Knicks and Jazz seriously discussed a Mitchell trade during the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League in mid-July, but talks stalled out and led to nearly a month of inactivity between the sides. Now, with training camp just over one month away, the sides have re-ignited talks. Hurdles toward a deal remain.”



It’s important to note that although they re-engaged in trade talks, the Knicks still have work to do to get Mitchell. If they don’t find a way to satisfy the Jazz, they might risk missing out on this opportunity.

NBA Rumors: Knicks back on track on Donovan Mitchell pursuit, but they’re not alone - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Rumors: Knicks back on track on Donovan Mitchell pursuit, but they’re not alone

A player who last played for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lebron-james-not-expected-to-depart-the-lakers-anytime-before-2024-2405-20220729-SPD-2405.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> in 2018 looks to be of interest to the team, according to reports. There is a possibility that the Lakers would enter into the picture if the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-trade-rumors-lakers-have-other-targets-besides-kyrie-irving-2269-20220719-SPD-2269.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks</a> manage to get <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-heat-in-need-of-third-club-to-get-donovan-mitchell-2242-20220718-SPD-2242.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a>.



If NBA insider Marc Stein is correct, Darvin Ham’s side would have no problem taking on <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/bam-adebayo-willing-to-devote-whole-professional-career-to-heat-in-spite-of-trade-rumors-2419-20220731-SPD-2419.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julius Randle</a>‘s $117 million deal he signed in 2021. Since his contract expires at the end of the 2022-23 season, he will get $23.7 million in pay for the following two seasons.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“A very plugged-in person in the league told me… If Donovan Mitchell were to end up with the Knicks, there could be talks between the Knicks and the Lakers involving Julius [Randle],” Stein said on Spotify Live.</blockquote>



<h2>Julius Randle to return at Lakers?</h2>



Randle was drafted seventh overall by the Lakers in the NBA draft in 2014. L.A. served him well for the first four seasons and allowed him to continue to progress. He inked a two-year contract for $24 million with the New Orleans Pelicans after ending his time in Los Angeles.



He spent the 2018-19 season in New Orleans and chose not to exercise his player option for the 2019-20 season. Then, the 27-year-old moved to the Knicks and was supposed to lead the Knicks into the playoffs, but he had a poor season. As a consequence, the New York Knicks are now thought to be open to revamping their squad.

NBA News: If Donovan Mitchell joins Knicks, Lakers might move for Julius Randle - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: If Donovan Mitchell joins Knicks, Lakers might move for Julius Randle

The New York Knicks have offered <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-four-year-100-million-deal-in-works-for-jalen-brunson-with-knicks-1762-20220625-SPD-1762.html" data-type="URL" data-id="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-four-year-100-million-deal-in-works-for-jalen-brunson-with-knicks-1762-20220625-SPD-1762.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jalen Brunson</a> a four-year, $104 million deal, as per reports from his representatives. The Knicks have finally nabbed the 25-year-old point guard, according to The Athletic, with the Mavericks never having a chance to rival New York’s offer.



A Knicks assistant coach’s son, Brunson was drafted by the Boston Celtics. As a player, Leon Rose, the current president of the Knicks, was the older Brunson’s agent. The Knicks have been making this move for a long time, and it was telegraphed on draft night.



To accept this offer, New York had to free up some room on the salary cap. It achieved this by giving the Pistons Kemba Walker, Nerlens Noel, and Alec Burks in exchange for no monetary compensation. Despite Dallas’ ownership of Brunson’s Bird Rights, the Knicks were able to outbid them. 



<h2>Jalen Brunson to continue career in New York</h2>



As a result, the Knicks have acquired the services of Brunson, who will become the franchise’s 13th first-round pick since 2009. As seen by this deal, New York certainly does not anticipate a 14th player appearing for some time. 



A major ball-handler, New York hopes that the offensive magic that Brunson exhibited when Luka Doncic was hurt in Game 1 of the playoffs will convert to All-Star output. A return to the playoffs after their poor lottery season in 2021 could be possible if this can happen.

NBA free agency: Jalen Brunson agrees four-year, $104 million deal with Knicks - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA free agency: Jalen Brunson agrees four-year, $104 million deal with Knicks

More and more money is being poured into the world of sports. It’s especially true in the NBA, where franchise values have risen dramatically in recent years. Not even the COVID-19 pandemic has made much headway in this area.



Since Forbes‘ latest set of estimations, released in February 2022, the average worth of an NBA team has increased by 13% to $2.48 billion, despite the pandemic leaving arenas mostly vacant for the 2020-21 season.



The NBA teams are still less valuable than those in the NFL, on average. The NFL’s average is just under $3 billion per franchise.



<h2>The most valuable NBA&nbsp;team</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://thesportsdrop-news.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/New-York-Knicks-players-1024x572.jpg" alt="New York Knicks players" class="wp-image-250" srcset="https://thesportsdrop-news.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/New-York-Knicks-players-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://thesportsdrop-news.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/New-York-Knicks-players-300x168.jpg 300w, https://thesportsdrop-news.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/New-York-Knicks-players-768x429.jpg 768w, https://thesportsdrop-news.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/New-York-Knicks-players.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Nic Antaya/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



There is no other NBA team with a higher value than the New York Knicks as of the&nbsp;2021-22 season. With an estimated value of $5.8 billion, the Knicks once again top Forbes‘ annual club values list.



After the New York Knicks,&nbsp;the Golden State Warriors&nbsp;are valued at $5.6&nbsp;billion as of 2021. There was a huge increase in the average NBA franchise valuation between 2014 and 2021, going up from $634 million to more than $2.48 billion dollars.

New York Knicks