Re-sign Carmelo Anthony and other free agents will come, but without the small forward, the New York Knicks are going to have a hard time enticing marquee players to join the team. Phil Jackson is very aware that his free-agent-to-be holds a little bit of weight in the league and could dictate the future of the team. As Anthony begins meeting with agents in preparation of testing the market come July 1, Jackson is trying to get his time with the star to do a little bit of recruiting.
Anthony has already made it known that he intends to opt out of the final year of his contract and test the market, but Jackson is hoping he changes his mind. According to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com, Jackson has asked Anthony to opt in for one more year before becoming a free agent in 2015. Begley reports that Jackson and Anthony have had many conversations over the offseason and the Knicks president is satisfied with the direction things are headed. Jackson believes the team stands a better chance of attracting a big free agent if Anthony returns for at least one more year.
If Anthony were to opt in, the Knicks would have more financial freedom than if the forward were to opt out and then re-sign a max contract. His player option is worth $23 million. A max contract would be in the range of five years and $129 million while any other team can only offer four years and $96 million. Opting in leaves a lot of money on the table and Anthony is fresh off his 30th birthday which makes getting paid now more of a necessity than waiting another year.
Anthony wants to win and he wants to win now. Jackson would likely have to present a very convincing plan in order for him to leave plenty of money on the table to come back to the Knicks. Right now, the team is toying with trades of both Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire while hoping to be in the hunt for Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry. Not giving Anthony a max contract would certainly help those efforts.
Come July 1, Anthony will have plenty of teams pining after him. Given his age, the forward is likely looking for long-term security. His stock his is high now and might not be next season when there are several other players available as well depending on who opts in this season. Everything regarding Anthony is speculation right now, but Jackson is trying to get to him early in order to have the upper hand over teams like the Lakers or Houston.