Veteran forward Carmelo Anthony may be open to a return to the New York Knicks if the team is able to acquire point guard Chris Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Anthony will be an unrestricted free agent and the Knicks are said to have an interest in trading for Paul, expected to be made available by Thunder GM Sam Presti.

Anthony and Paul are close and have made it clear they would like to play together, and Knicks president Leon Rose is the former agent of both players when he was director of basketball for Creative Artists Agency.

Rose may still be interested in bringing in Anthony even if a Paul trade can’t be executed, Berman noted. Anthony, 36, will be an unrestricted free agent and is coming off a rebound season with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 15.4 points in 58 games.

“If Julius Randle is part of a Paul deal, the Knicks will need a starting small forward and power forward,” Berman wrote. “Anthony plays either position.”

Anthony said at the end of the season he is “praying” for a return to the Blazers.