Melo would consider waiving no-trade clause if Knicks want to rebuild

Carmelo Anthony could be on the way out of the Big Apple after all.

The New York Knicks forward has a no-trade clause in his contract, and has long maintained he has no intention of waiving it, despite rumors he'd welcome a move to the Los Angeles Clippers or Cleveland Cavaliers. However, it turns out he would be open to leaving if the club wants to move in a different direction.

"I have the power, but still I would talk to (front office execs)," the 32-year-old told Newsday's Al Iannazzone this week. "We would be in communication if they feel like they want to go in a different direction, they want to start rebuilding for the future. If they tell me they want to scrap this whole thing, yeah, I have to consider it."

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Melo made a point to say he's happy in his hometown of NYC, and doesn't want to go. He reportedly met with team president Phil Jackson earlier this week and reiterated his loyalty to the club, saying he wants to stay and win with the Knicks.

"Everything I've built myself on has been about winning. I want to win here in New York," he said.

The problem is, the team isn't winning. Since ranking third in the East in early December, the Knicks are in a free fall, dropping 15-of-20 and well out of the playoff picture. Anthony, who shouldered the blame for the team's losing streak, doesn't want to leave his teammates in a tough spot.

"There's a part of me that also would feel like I'm being selfish to the guys that are on the team right now, in the midst of us losing to just try to figure a way to escape from everything," he said. "For me personally, it would be more of something I would really have to think about and consider. Put it all on the table and figure it out."

The team declined to comment, but a league source told Iannazzone that New York wants Anthony "as long as it's mutual."