The NY Knicks have a new head coach in Derek Fisher and maybe now some hope for the future, as reports have LeBron James 'intrigued' at the idea of playing with Carmelo Anthony and there is a chance the two could opt in this year and sign as free agents in 2015 and with Fisher signing a five year deal, the coach thinks he is the right man to recruit Kevin Durant as a future free agent when his contract with Oklahoma City is up.
USA Today writes that James is "interested" in playing with Anthony, who is considered a friend by James and while it may not happen now, it could happen in the future. Anthony could opt in this year and so could James and then in 2015 the two could become free agents and team up in either Miami or New York or another team that would have them (which would be everyone). Adding to that, ESPN.com writes that in the future, having Fisher could help the Knicks lure Durant, who is a free agent in 2016 and is close to Fisher since playing with him over the past couple years.
Last season the Knicks were terrible and started the season 3-13 before ending up 37-45 and out of the playoffs in a bas eastern conference and that was a major step back for the franchise. In the previous season the Knicks won the division and over 50 games and the regression they showed this year could be a major issue going forward. The team played so bad that James Dolan ended up hiring Phil Jackson and while that may end up being a fantastic move in the future, the fact that it had to happen says a ton about where the Knicks are right now.
The Knicks feel that they have as good of a shot as anyone to sign back Anthony and they think they are the favorites since they can offer him the most money and the longest contract. According to ESPN and SI.com, the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets are the two teams going after Anthony the most this offseason, but they both need to make moves for that to happen. The Bulls have Carlos Boozer and his huge salary after he was paid $15 million this season, while the Rockets have both Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik and they will have to move one or two of those players for a chance to even sign Melo.
Anthony has the right to opt out of his contract coming up this summer, as he has never been a "real" free agent in his career. Anthony was signed and drafted out of Syracuse to the Denver Nuggets and he had no choice in that regard and he played well there, going to the playoffs each season and signing an extension. He wasn't a free agent after signing that extension and while he got to choose the Knicks in a way, it still was a trade and he signed another extension to keep him off the market. Anthony is nearing 30 and he may never have another chance in his entire career to put his talents on the market when they are still this good. Anthony deserves to be wooed and if the Knicks want to keep him, they will try as hard as everyone else to sign him.