Carmelo Anthony's insistence on remaining in New York despite Knicks president Phil Jackson's belief he should finish his career elsewhere is rooted in Anthony's desire to remain close to his 10-year-old son Kiyan.
That's what his estranged wife, La La Anthony said Tuesday on "The Wendy Williams Show."
Asked if they were divorcing, La La Anthony, who has known her husband since he was 19 and been married for seven years, said, "Not right now," and added of Carmelo, "We're the best of friends."
She said she will continue to live in New York.
There has been speculation that Anthony, 33 and a 10-time All-Star, would be a top target of the Cavaliers if the Knicks decide to buy out his contract, which has a no-trade clause. ESPN's Ian Begley said at this point the Knicks would prefer to trade Anthony.
"Every day I see a different team, that's for sure," La La Anthony told Williams. "The most important thing with that is to stay close to Kiyan. That's my priority. That's his priority. So wherever he ends up, of course we want him to be happy..."
Sources told Begley that Anthony was leaning towards leaving the Knicks when the regular season ended, but his family situation has changed his thinking.
Chicago's Dwyane Wade, another candidate for the Cavs in a buyout scenario, would have to return part of the $23.8 million player option he opted in on last week for that to happen, Bulls executive vice president John Paxson said in a press conference Tuesday.
Wade, 35, said in January he didn't want to be part of a rebuild and Paxson sent the Bulls in that direction Thursday when he traded three-time All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"I know (general manager) Gar (Forman) has spoken to Leon Rose, Dwyane's agent," Paxson said, according to ESPN.com. "As far as a buyout, it has not been broached. I will say this, that in this type of scenario, it would have to benefit us. It would absolutely have to benefit us. Dwyane was a great pro last year, and he's been around a lot of different situations. He was in Miami when they had a couple rebuilding years as well. So right now we're operating under the assumption that he'll be here. But like I said, if that subject is ever broached by them, then it would have to be advantageous for us."
Wade was a teammate of Cavs star LeBron James for four years with the Miami Heat and both Wade and Anthony remain close friends with James. All three were chosen in the top five picks in the 2003 draft.
