DeMarcus Cousins and the Pelicans want in on the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes

The pursuit of Carmelo Anthony is turning into the biggest event this side of the courting of Penelope.

Social media and Marc Berman of the New York Post report that DeMarcus Cousins and the New Orleans Pelicans can be added to the growing list of suitors for Melo’s services:

The Pelicans star center strongly hinted he has reached out to recruit Anthony, who he has said was his favorite Team USA teammate during the Rio Olympics last August.

“We need as much talent and as many pieces as we can get. I’ve reached out to everybody,’’ Cousins told the New Orleans Times-Picayune from Johannesburg, South Africa. “I mean, I don’t want to throw names out there, but some of the biggest names that are on the block right now I’ve reached out to.”

OK, kinda vague in the quote department, but social media has painted a more obvious picture:

I, for one, worry that a Melo/Boogie/Anthony Davis arrangement could present many of the same problems that the now-infamous Melo/Amar’e Stoudemire/Tyson Chandler troika did, but nobody tell the Pelicans about that! As a matter of fact, burn any and all footage of those three on the court together (I can’t imagine the film reel is longer than two or three minutes).

Berman also indicated that the Knicks have now formally (pinky out) asked Melo to waive his no trade clause for a larger list of teams, and gave some insight to what teams might be a-knockin’:

According to the source, the Knicks are still hopeful Anthony eventually will expand his wish list beyond the Rockets — with the Trail Blazers, Cavaliers, Thunder and Pelicans holding interest.

The source said the Knicks brass has told Anthony he needs to do so because they are unwilling to make a “bad trade” — and he seemed to understand the team’s position.

So, yeah. This is actually starting to get a little fun, no? I really wish that the tampering rules weren’t in place so that teams could wine and dine Melo on the company dime like when he was a free agent. Dan Gilbert would spell his name out in fireworks across the Cleveland skyline. Dell Demps would take Melo partying down Bourbon Street. Danny Ainge would lay out his comprehensive eight-year plan for Carmelo, including a PowerPoint presentation with slide-to-slide animations.

But alas, we’re stuck with player recruiting. Here’s hoping someone entices Melo in an exciting way!