Blow it up, Knicks: It's time to ditch Carmelo

The time has come for a divorce in New York.

The Knicks once looked like a team that had turned around its fortunes, especially after hitting the jackpot with Kristaps Porzingis.

But as of Tuesday, they're a disappointing 18-24, three games out of eighth place in the East and filled to the brim with drama. The biggest headache? It involves Carmelo Anthony. The star forward will reportedly finally get to meet with president Phil Jackson to hash out their differences and, perhaps, talk about the future:

Anthony has said he hasn't thought about waiving his no-trade clause to get out of town. But here's how this meeting should go: Jackson and Anthony should both agree - to extend the marriage metaphor once more - there are irreconcilable differences, that the clock is ticking on Melo's stellar career and that the Knicks can't be stuck in mediocrity forever. For everyone involved, a trade is the best option.

Jackson can even tell Anthony he can help find a preferable destination since he's the one with a no-trade clause. Anthony gets out from under the scrutiny of playing in New York, where he's questioned about his state of mind seemingly every night, and Jackson gets some return for someone who's still an elite scorer.

Remember, in the NBA, staying in the middle of the pack is death. Only a full-on tank job will net the kind of assets that help build a champion. At this point, even if the Knicks somehow suddenly go on a tear, there's no way they're coming close to sniffing at a ring. Keeping things status quo is the wrong way to go.

If Jackson can pull off a deal, he'll then get to jump-start a rebuild around Porzingis, and will hopefully do it the right way through the draft. Nabbing top free agents might be a lot tougher when players see the Knicks continue to flounder and struggle with internal clashes (not to mention those "posse" comments hanging over his head).

Will Jackson get a fair return for Anthony? Possibly not anything top-dollar. As USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt noted, he's got $54.1 million left on a deal that runs through 2018-19. There's also this factor, also from Zillgitt: "[He] likes where he lives and works and isn't much interested right now in leaving."

From a basketball perspective, however, the only way anyone will be happy is a split.