BEAVERTON -- As trade rumors continue to swirl around disgruntled All-Star Carmelo Anthony, the Portland Trail Blazers' two franchise cornerstones have issued the New York Knicks' forward a simple message:
We'd love to have you in Portland.
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum said Wednesday that they both quietly have reached out to Anthony to sell him on the Blazers and the idea of joining them in Portland.
"He can help us a lot; we can help him," McCollum said, when asked to relay his message to Anthony. "He wants to play in the playoffs and be competitive. He's a very talented player. I think if we get him -- when we get him -- I think (we're) top three in the West easy."
What was Anthony's response?
"I think he's interested," McCollum said. "Obviously, I feel like he wants to play with friends, with Banana Boat friends. I know he wants to play with (Chris Paul) and LeBron (James). Those are very good teams, very good options. But I feel like we're also a very good option."
Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA performer, reportedly wants to leave New York and escape a losing franchise in the midst of a top-to-bottom rebuild. But Anthony possesses a no-trade clause, so he controls where he can be dealt and has reportedly has told the Knicks he'll waive his no-trade clause to join the Houston Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers.
But that limited two-team wish list has not deterred the Blazers' two best players from trying to lure him to Portland.
"I spoke to him," Lillard said. "Because, obviously, he makes us a better team. Obviously with that being out there and that being a real possibility, I don't see why I wouldn't reach out to him and let him know the interest is mutual if he's interested in us.
"We had a conversation ... so he knew that it wasn't just the team -- but it was myself and CJ -- (that) would love to have him here. So I reached out to him."
The Blazers' cornerstones have hardly made it a secret that they want to add another top-tier player to the Blazers' roster. They used social media to woo All-Star Paul George before he was traded to Oklahoma City, and earlier this week, McCollum posted onto his Instagram account a doctored photo of Anthony wearing a black Blazers No. 7 uniform.
After sputtering to a disappointing eighth place finish in the Western Conference last season, Lillard and McCollum have watched as talented players have migrated West to other teams, making their competition in the conference tougher and their path to a deep playoff run even more daunting. Meanwhile, the capped-out Blazers -- who spent big last offseason -- have countered by adding two first-round draft picks. On Wednesday, when the Blazers' backcourt spoke at the annual Damian Lillard Basketball Camp in Beaverton, they toed the line of praising the current roster with asking for help.
"If our roster is as is right now, then I'm going to go out there and go to war how we are," Lillard said. "I'm going to go out there believing that we can get it done regardless of what the roster says. I'm going to believe that and I can say that because I truly believe it in my heart that we can go out there and get it done. But I know (adding talent) gives us a better chance. You have the best teams out there trying to improve their roster, so I think we should be trying to do the same. And I think we are."
Added McCollum: "I think we're going to be good, regardless of if we add any free agents or not. I feel like we're adding a free agent because we weren't able to play with (Jusuf Nurkic) in the playoffs. So I think that's going to help us, that's going to give us a different dynamic, with him being able to go through a full summer. He's been working hard, he looks like he's in good shape, and he'll have a better understanding of the playbook. I think he's the difference, he's going to make a difference. Whether we bring in someone or not, we'll have him for a full season."
Will the Blazers have Anthony for a season, too?
Most in NBA circles have a hard time envisioning Anthony waiving his no-trade clause to come to Portland. But even so, that won't stop the ever-optimistic Lillard and the enterprising McCollum from continuing their Portland pitch.
McCollum said he's flying to New York tomorrow to visit his girlfriend, Elise Esposito, who attends Columbia. It just so happens that McCollum and Anthony share the same personal trainer -- who just so happens to live in New York. Might McCollum bump into Anthony during his visit?
"You know, New York's a very good city," McCollum said, smirking. "My schedule's open.
"If he's there, then I'll go say hello."
Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman