Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: Knicks, Rockets Talks Involved Ryan Anderson

The Houston Rockets and New York Knicks reportedly had trade discussions regarding Carmelo Anthony and Ryan Anderson.

On Friday, Ian Begley of ESPN.com reported the two sides "touched base recently" with Anderson's name coming up when Houston was talking about potentially acquiring Anthony. Begley granted the discussions "didn't gain much traction," noting the Knicks weren't particularly interested in Anderson at the time.

Anthony's immediate future is still hanging over the Knicks franchise even after it parted ways with team president Phil Jackson. Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical previously reported the front office wanted to trade him instead of offering a buyout even after dispatching of Jackson.

Begley speculated Houston would be an ideal fit for Anthony with his no-trade clause because he could play with his friend Chris Paul.

The fit would make sense from the Rockets' perspective as they attempt to add more talent to keep up with the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference. Anthony is a 10-time All-Star and a six-time member of an All-NBA team and can still be a scoring machine for the next couple of years even at 33 after averaging 22.4 points a night this past season.

He could be particularly dangerous in Houston head coach Mike D'Antoni's space-oriented system alongside James Harden (who led the league in assists per game in 2016-17 at 11.2) and Paul (fourth in the league in assists at 9.2).

As for Anderson, Begley said he's "been shopped around by the Rockets," and the player is in the midst of a four-year, $80 million contract. He won't be an unrestricted free agent until 2020, per Spotrac, and is expensive even as a matchup problem who drilled 40.3 percent of his three-pointers in 2016-17.

He apparently didn't interest the Knicks at that cost, especially since they already have a big man who can extend his game to the outside in Kristaps Porzingis.