Speculations abound that the New York Knicks could possibly agree to trade nine-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony after this season if the team again falls short of a postseason appearance.

The 31-year-old Anthony has a no-trade clause in his contract and has been adamant that he will stay with the Knicks for the long haul and will try to figure out how to win with them. Anthony had also further said that one championship in New York is better than multiple titles with any other team.

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However, former NBA star Jalen Rose told reporters on an ESPN radio show that Anthony and the Knicks' relationship could be headed to an ugly separation this offseason following the incident where Knicks owner James Dolan reportedly "forced" Anthony to apologize to a heckling fan during a blowout loss to Portland at the Garden, as reported by Sports Media 101.

Reportedly, a fan expressed his displeasure about the state of the Knicks this season and Anthony told him that he should go and ask Dolan for a refund.

The incident escalated into news and the former NBA scoring champion told media that the apology was Dolan's idea.

"It was Mr. Dolan's decision," Anthony said, via ESPN. "I don't really think I said anything wrong. The guy said he wasn't coming to any more games. I said why are you talking to me about it? The owner's right there. You should discuss that with him. Don't yell my name out and talk to me about that. Talk to the owner about that. It wasn't no hostility. He said what he had to say. I said what I had to say. That was that."

Meanwhile, league executives are positive that the market for Anthony is huge and he is still considered a star player in the league even at his advanced age.

"There is a market. He's still a star player. They could get a starter and a first-round draft pick and whatever else needed to make the salaries work," one Eastern exec said, as reported by the New York Post.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, Knicks Trade Rumors, new york knicks, carmelo anthony, NBA Trade Rumors 2016