Cavs not interested in Kevin Love-for-Carmelo Anthony swap, sources say
The Knicks have been unsuccessful in their attempts to engage the Cavaliers in Carmelo Anthony-for-Kevin Love trade talks in advance of the NBA's Feb. 23 trade deadline, ESPN.com has learned.
League sources told ESPN.com on Wednesday that the Knicks approached the Cavaliers to gauge their interest in swapping All-Star forwards, but they were told Cleveland is not interested in such an exchange.
The Knicks, sources said, would have gone to Anthony to discuss waiving his no-trade clause had Cleveland shown interest in the deal. Anthony is one of only three NBA players with a full no-trade clause in his contract, alongside the Cavaliers' LeBron James and the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki.
On multiple occasions in recent weeks, James has been vocal about the Cavaliers' need for another seasoned point guard on the roster, as well as another big man, to fill the voids created by the offseason departures of guard Matthew Dellavedova and center Timofey Mozgov.
Although James and Anthony are close and have expressed interest in playing together someday, sources said Cleveland is not prepared to surrender Love to get Anthony after the role Love played in helping the Cavaliers win their first championship in franchise history in June.
Asked about the report later Wednesday, James said he had "no reaction."
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18553325/new-york-knicks-pitch-carmelo-anthony-kevin-love-rebuffed-cleveland-cavaliers
