NBA Rumors: Latest on Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose Trade, Pacers' Coach Search

After a bounce-back season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Carmelo Anthony is returning to the free-agent market. What's next for the 36-year-old forward? Perhaps a return to one of his former teams.

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, if the New York Knicks were to go out and trade for veteran point guard Chris Paul, Anthony is "likely to want to follow." As Berman noted, Paul and Anthony are close friends, and they only spent limited time together as teammates with the Houston Rockets in 2018-19.

But even if Paul remains with his current team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, or ends up on a team other than New York, don't completely rule out a reunion between Anthony and the Knicks.

"A source said [Knicks president Leon] Rose is amenable to an Anthony return even without Paul," Berman wrote.

Anthony spent seven seasons with the Knicks from 2010-17, playing 412 games for them during that span. He was an All-Star each of those seasons, and he won the NBA scoring title in 2012-13, when he averaged 28.7 points in 67 games.

Since leaving New York, Anthony has played for a different team each of the past three seasons—the Thunder (2017-18), Rockets (2018-19) and Trail Blazers (2019-20). After playing only 10 games for Houston, Anthony rebounded with a solid year in Portland, averaging 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds in 58 games (all starts).

With the Knicks continuing to add young players to their core in their rebuild, Anthony could provide some veteran leadership and experience should he return to the team.

Could Rose Get Traded to Los Angeles?

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Earlier this year, there had been some rumors about veteran point guard Derrick Rose potentially getting traded by the Detroit Pistons. Nothing came to fruition, though, and Rose remained with the Pistons for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

However, according to a recent report by Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, one general manager believes there's still a chance that Rose gets sent from Detroit to Los Angeles at some point:

"I think both sides were reluctant when they went into in January, February. I don't think the Lakers wanted to make a major move because they thought they could do something on the buyout market. And I don't think the Pistons wanted to make a major move because Derrick was happy there.

"You know, the Lakers wanted to be involved in case the Clippers got involved or someone else, the Bucks or the Nuggets, whoever. So there was interest but not too serious. Now, everything has shifted a little. Now, they’re both in a position to where a deal is much more likely now."

Rose has played for five teams over his 11-year NBA career, with this past season being his first in Detroit. The 32-year-old was a solid contributor for the Pistons, averaging 18.1 points and 5.6 assists in 50 games (15 starts), and he's under contract for one more season.

The Lakers could be losing a veteran point guard in free agency, should Rajon Rondo decide not to return to the team, so a trade for Rose could make sense for the reigning NBA champions.

Latest On Pacers' Search For New Head Coach

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

The Indiana Pacers' search for a new head coach is still ongoing, although they've reached the stage in which they're interviewing candidates. Among those interviewees has been Miami Heat assistant coach Dan Craig, who "impressed" the Pacers Friday, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Although Craig appears to have done well during his interview, Jackson also reported that New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach Chris Finch is still considered the favorite for the Pacers job.

Craig has been working for the Heat since 2003, which included one season as the head coach of the Sioux Falls Skyforce, their NBA G League affiliate, in 2015-16. He returned to Miami's staff as an assistant in 2016-17.

Finch has been an assistant coach for the Rockets (2011-16), Denver Nuggets (2016-17) and Pelicans (2017-present).

The Pacers fired former head coach Nate McMillan in August after the team was swept by the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. He had been Indiana's coach for four seasons.