The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers are seeking a third team to help facilitate a trade involving Carmelo Anthony.

The Knicks are willing to trade Anthony without any of the Clippers' Big 3 of Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan or Blake Griffin in return.

New York is reluctant to absorb the three years and $42 million left on Jamal Crawford's contract after this season. The Clippers are hesitant to trade away J.J. Redick.

The Clippers are also hard-capped this season, which would make it difficult for the club to deal with the 15 percent trade kicker in Anthony's contract that would add nearly $10 million to his 2016-17 season if he's dealt.

The market for Anthony thus far has been tepid, sources said, partly due to the extremely limited number of teams it is believed he'd be willing to join.

The New York Knicks are open to trading Carmelo Anthony to the Los Angeles Clippers in a package that does not include Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan or Blake Griffin.

The Knicks technically cannot even trade for Griffin because a team cannot have two Designated Rookie Max extensions on a roster acquired via a trade at any time. Derrick Rose falls under that category as Griffin does.

The Clippers would have to trade approximately $27 million in salary to fit Anthony under their cap.

A Clippers' deal for Anthony would likely include one or even two players from the group of Jamal Crawford, J.J. Redick or Austin Rivers.

On Wednesday, Anthony told reporters that management has not discussed any potential deals with him.

In addition to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks reached out to the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers in regards to a Carmelo Anthony trade.

Phil Jackson is determined to find a destination and deal that Anthony would agree to accept before the Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline.

Jackson wants to begin rebuilding around Kristaps Porzingis.

The Clippers are a team that would interest Anthony.

Anthony makes $24.6 million this season and has $54 million remaining over the next two years of his contract. His deal includes a 15 percent trade kicker and a player option for the 2018-19 season.

Blake Griffin is expected to return from his knee surgery on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Griffin underwent an arthroscopic procedure Dec. 20 to remove loose bodies from his right knee.

The Clippers have compiled a 10-8 record while he has been sidelined.

Griffin, who has been traveling with the team on this road trip and got in some work Monday, made his first public comments since the surgery on Saturday in Denver, saying, "I'm as close as you can feel."

As Griffin rehabilitated the knee in recent weeks, he said his lateral mobility and ability to pivot were the greatest challenges defensively, and his capacity to attack offensively was another point of emphasis in workouts.

The L.A. Clippers announced that Chris Paul will undergo surgery on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

Dr. Steve Shin will perform the procedure.

Paul is expected to miss approximately six-to-eight weeks and will continue to undergo treatment and evaluation by the Clippers medical staff.

In 36 games this season, the Clippers are 26-9 with Paul in the lineup. The nine-time NBA All-Star is averaging 17.5. points, 9.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds this season and leads the NBA with 2.25 steals per game.

Chris Paul sprained his left thumb in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Clippers' win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

X-rays on the thumb were negative, a team source said.

Paul was defending Russell Westbrook and sprained the thumb fighting over a screen set by Joffrey Lauvergne at the top of the 3-point line.

Paul sprained the same thumb during a practice late in the preseason.

The last time Paul sprained his left thumb in season was during the first round of the 2014 playoffs against the Golden State Warriors. The Clippers won the series in seven games.

Paul broke his right hand in Game 4 of the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2016 playoffs.

Carmelo Anthony has a no-trade clause in his contract, which limits the New York Knicks' options.

Anthony re-signed with the Knicks on a five-year, $124 million deal in 2014 with a full no-trade clause. While Anthony has a no-trade clause and has said he'd like to remain with the New York Knicks, he could approve a trade to either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Los Angeles Clippers.

"It’s understood that he’d only accept being dealt to the Cavaliers or the Clippers," wrote Charley Rosen, who is perhaps the media member with the closest relationship with Phil Jackson.

Anthony has an early termination option after the 17-18 season.

Anthony has a PER of 19.4 this season, down from his career highs of 24.8 in 12-13 and 24.2 in 13-14.

Blake Griffin is on target to return from his routine arthroscopic procedure to remove loose bodies from his right knee on Dec. 20.

Griffin missed his 13th straight game on Wednesday night.

Rivers wouldn't specify a return date, but team sources said the Clippers are hopeful he could return during the last week of January, which would correspond with the initial diagnosis of four to six weeks.

"I don't know if he's ahead of schedule, on schedule, but all things are go for him -- and that's very positive for us," Rivers said.

Kevin Garnett has been hired by the Los Angeles Clippers as a consultant.

Garnett was at the Clippers' practice on Tuesday.

After retiring as an active player just before this season following a two-decade career, Garnett made a training camp appearance with the Clippers. 

Garnett played for Doc Rivers in Boston for six seasons

Matt Barnes was close to signing with the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason, while he also considered the Golden State Warriors before signing with the Sacramento Kings.

“It came down to the Clippers, Warriors, and Sacramento kind of jumped in late,” he said. “[Coming home] was always something I wanted to do. I just didn’t know it was going to happen. I just happened to be home for the Fourth of July visiting my family and I signed. It was kind ironic that I just happened to be in Sacramento when they called.”

Barnes signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Kings.

“I thought it was a done deal, I was going to the Clippers,” said Barnes. “The day before I was supposed to meet with Doc (Rivers), they decided to go in another direction with Wesley Johnson. That was obviously my first choice at the time, to be close to my kids. Golden State was always a choice; they just didn’t have very much money. I’ve always been the guy to take less money to play on a better team, but the price gap was too far on this one.

“It’s always been a dream and a goal of mine to come back home at some point. To get a chance to play with DeMarcus, Rudy [Gay], and some of these guys has been a great experience.”

The Clippers traded Barnes during the 2015 offseason for Lance Stephenson.