If the Cleveland Cavaliers want Carmelo Anthony, they must act fast

If the Cleveland Cavaliers want to get Carmelo Anthony, they will need to hurry because a deal might be finalizing in the next couple days.

Throughout this offseason, the two teams that Carmelo Anthony’s name continues to circle back to were the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets. As of now, talks between the Cavaliers and Knicks seem to have stalled, but if the Cavaliers want Melo, they might need to call the Knicks within the next couple of days.

According to Frank Isola, a trusted reporter for the New York Daily News, Melo’s camp think a deal could happen in the next few days. He reported this:

"Anthony’s camp is cautiously optimistic that a deal will be struck before Monday, and trying not to think about the potential media circus that will take place if Carmelo is still with the Knicks. Two weeks ago, Carmelo’s wife, La La, said the family thought a trade would have been completed by now."

The trick to a trade for Carmelo Anthony is his no-trade clause. That means, if he doesn’t want to come to Cleveland, he certainly doesn’t have to. That said, all indications are that he will be on his way to Houston in just a couple days. If any team can change that, it is the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The former superstar shouldn’t cost the Cavaliers too much. He was just ranked No. 64 in ESPN’s top 100, which, by itself, caused a ruckus among the NBA realm. The next question is: do the Cavaliers even want Melo?

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The one-time scoring champ has averaged over 20 points per game every season of his 14-year NBA career. The reason the Cavaliers shouldn’t target Melo is that their youth movement is more important. It is almost guaranteed the only assets the Knicks want are either picks or young players. The Cavaliers really don’t have the latter, so the former would be what the Cavaliers must give up. Several seasons ago the Brooklyn Nets gave away numerous future first-round picks just to see their star-studded team split up just a few short years later. If the Cavaliers give away more picks and LeBron James leaves for the second time (which according to SLAM) is 100% happening after next season, the Cavaliers will be in one their worst positions moving forward in team history.

There is a much lower floor for a trade like this than there is a ceiling. Carmelo Anthony’s addition to the Cavaliers is not paramount for the Cavs’ continued success. I think that is reason No. 1 why the front office has cut off talks with the New York Knicks. But, there is no harm in reasoning with the Knicks. With that no-trade clause, the Knicks might be willing to give Anthony up for far less than his worth. It is, at the very least, worth inquiring about if you are the Cavaliers.

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The time is now, but I highly doubt the Cavaliers make a quick move for the star Knick.