Report: Anthony informs Knicks he doesn't want to return to team

The chances Carmelo Anthony begins the 2017-18 NBA season as a member of the New York Knicks are looking bleaker by the second.

President Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry are hopeful they can convince the 33-year-old forward to give it another go with the Knicks should they meet with him. Too bad Melo reportedly wants the complete opposite of that.

"Carmelo Anthony has made it clear to them, I want to go to Houston, I’m not interested in talking to you about being re-incorporated back into this New York roster," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said during a recent appearance on SportsCenter.

"So what they’re trying to do ... Steve Mills would not have ascended to this job in New York if he wasn’t pretty politically savvy. He doesn’t want to get into a public war here with Carmelo Anthony, who they spent over a year trying to run out of town. Houston now is prepared that these talks with the Knicks could run through August, September, into possibly the start of training camp as New York tries to rebuild Melo's value, and threaten people with the idea that they'll bring him back to start the season."

With a no-trade clause in his contract, Anthony has reportedly given his blessing to be dealt to either the Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers, although he would prefer to join Chris Paul and James Harden in Houston if he had to choose one team over the other.

Related - Harden: Melo would help Rockets tremendously

Since New York wasn't thrilled with what Houston had to offer in a straight-up deal between the two sides (mainly the $60-plus million owed to Ryan Anderson over the next three years), the framework for a four-team trade was discussed, though that has since fallen through.

The Portland Trail Blazers sought to get involved, but only if Anthony were willing to waive his clause to head to Rip City, which he's not.

Anthony has been a Knick since 2011 following a trade from the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 74 appearances last season, with New York once again falling way short of a playoff berth with a 31-51 record.