Knicks sending Carmelo Anthony to OKC Thunder for 2 players  pick
Carmelo Anthony
A complicated era is over.  Carmelo Anthony  finally escaped New York.
After months of posturing and misdirection regarding  his  future   the Knicks  agreed to ship the greatest Knick since Patrick Ewing to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Doug McDermott  Enes Kanter and a 2018 second-round pick  a source confirmed Saturday.
Two role players is a small haul for a player of Anthonyâs stature and scoring prowess  but  the Knicks  were never getting a comparable return. Both sides just needed to move on after a long and contentious divorce period.
 Carmelo Anthony  is getting  his  wish and will be leaving  the Knicks  just days before start of training camp.
During and after Phil Jacksonâs tenure   the Knicks  made it known that  Anthony  was no longer part of  their  plans. But  they  couldnât agree to a deal to satisfy Anthonyâs desire of playing for the Rockets  setting in motion fears that the small forward would make it to another  Knicks  training camp.
 Knicks  reach out to Cavs about a potential  Carmelo Anthony  trade
 He  didnât want that.
Less than two weeks ago  according to a source   Anthony  opened up  his  options to three destinations â including the Rockets â to pressure  the Knicks  to get a deal done before having to attend Media Day in New York on Monday. As the Daily News first reported   the Knicks  reached out to the Cavs recently with the understanding that  Anthony  would waive  his  no-trade clause to join buddy LeBron James. However  the Cavs were unwilling to part with Tristan Thompson or Kevin Love.
The Thunder were also on  Anthony âs list  and there is an important connection: Assistant GM Troy Weaver formerly coached  Anthony  at Syracuse  and the two remain close. Beyond that  the Thunder will boast a trio (Anthony  Russell Westbrook  Paul George) as lethal offensively as any in the NBA. To complete the deal   Anthony  not only had to waive  his  no-trade clause   he  sacrificed a trade kicker worth $8.1 million.  He  leaves the biggest NBA market for one of the smallest  an ironic move considering  he  pushed so hard to travel the opposite way six years ago for  his  trade to the Knicks. New York is the city that never sleeps and Oklahoma Cityâs stores all close by 6 p.m. But digital media has changed the landscape such that stars can get exposure and endorsements in any market. The Thunder have 27 games on national television this season  compared to New Yorkâs eight.
 Carmelo Anthony  will be sporting a new look this season. (Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE/Getty Images)
The Knicks are projected to land in the lottery again  while challenged to replace Anthonyâs 22-plus points per game. Theyâll be really bad  but itâs easy to find the long-term reasons for dealing  Anthony : it creates a faster transition into the Kristaps Porzingis era; it eliminates potential distractions and another controversy; it jibes with New Yorkâs tanking strategy in the final year of the current draft lottery system.
 Carmelo Anthony  spends seven seasons with the Knicks but fails to deliver a true contender. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
 Anthony  wouldâve been traded long ago if  he  wasnât one of only three NBA players with a no-trade clause. It was given to  Anthony  by Jackson â along with a $124 million contract â in 2014. Before that   he  led the Knicks to a division title  a playoff series victory and set the franchise record for most points in a game (62).
But everything went downhill after Jackson took over as president  culminating Saturday with  Anthony  leaving the Knicks â a marriage once meant to save the franchise.
Knicks   Carmelo Anthony  headed toward awkward reunion next week
A complicated era is over.   [TGT] finally escaped New York.
After months of posturing and misdirection regarding   [TGT]   future   the Knicks  agreed to ship the greatest Knick since Patrick Ewing to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Doug McDermott  Enes Kanter and a 2018 second-round pick  a source confirmed Saturday.
Two role players is a small haul for a player of Anthonyâs stature and scoring prowess  but  the Knicks  were never getting a comparable return. Both sides just needed to move on after a long and contentious divorce period.
  [TGT] is getting   [TGT]   wish and will be leaving  the Knicks  just days before start of training camp.
During and after Phil Jacksonâs tenure   the Knicks  made it known that   [TGT] was no longer part of  their  plans. But  they  couldnât agree to a deal to satisfy Anthonyâs desire of playing for the Rockets  setting in motion fears that the small forward would make it to another  Knicks  training camp.
 Knicks  reach out to Cavs about a potential   [TGT] trade
  [TGT]   didnât want that.
Less than two weeks ago  according to a source    [TGT] opened up   [TGT]   options to three destinations â including the Rockets â to pressure  the Knicks  to get a deal done before having to attend Media Day in New York on Monday. As the Daily News first reported   the Knicks  reached out to the Cavs recently with the understanding that  Anthony  would waive  his  no-trade clause to join buddy LeBron James. However  the Cavs were unwilling to part with Tristan Thompson or Kevin Love.
The Thunder were also on   [TGT]  âs list  and there is an important connection: Assistant GM Troy Weaver formerly coached   [TGT] at Syracuse  and the two remain close. Beyond that  the Thunder will boast a trio (Anthony  Russell Westbrook  Paul George) as lethal offensively as any in the NBA. To complete the deal    [TGT] not only had to waive   [TGT]   no-trade clause    [TGT]   sacrificed a trade kicker worth $8.1 million.   [TGT]   leaves the biggest NBA market for one of the smallest  an ironic move considering   [TGT]   pushed so hard to travel the opposite way six years ago for   [TGT]   trade to the Knicks. New York is the city that never sleeps and Oklahoma Cityâs stores all close by 6 p.m. But digital media has changed the landscape such that stars can get exposure and endorsements in any market. The Thunder have 27 games on national television this season  compared to New Yorkâs eight.
  [TGT] will be sporting a new look this season. (Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE/Getty Images)
The Knicks are projected to land in the lottery again  while challenged to replace Anthonyâs 22-plus points per game. Theyâll be really bad  but itâs easy to find the long-term reasons for dealing  Anthony : it creates a faster transition into the Kristaps Porzingis era; it eliminates potential distractions and another controversy; it jibes with New Yorkâs tanking strategy in the final year of the current draft lottery system.
  [TGT] spends seven seasons with the Knicks but fails to deliver a true contender. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
  [TGT] wouldâve been traded long ago if   [TGT]   wasnât one of only three NBA players with a no-trade clause. It was given to   [TGT] by Jackson â along with a $124 million contract â in 2014. Before that   he  led the Knicks to a division title  a playoff series victory and set the franchise record for most points in a game (62).
But everything went downhill after Jackson took over as president  culminating Saturday with   [TGT] leaving the Knicks â a marriage once meant to save the franchise.
Knicks   Carmelo  [TGT] headed toward awkward reunion next week