Carmelo Anthony is simply confirming what everyone predicted would happen, after the All-Star break he is done for the season. The New York Knicks star certainly did not predict his first season after signing a monster contract in free agency would end up like this, but neither did Knicks fans as their team sits with the worst record in the league. After battling injuries and keeping the future in mind, Anthony is prepared to shut things down for the remainder of the year.
After suffering another setback with lingering knee issues, it was assumed that Anthony could be finished. Some reports say the star might need surgery and since he will be the main recruiting tool in free agency, the Knicks need Anthony as healthy as possible when the offseason rolls around.
"It's very likely. It's very likely. Now I've got to start thinking about the future," Anthony said via Marc Stein, Marc Kestecher and P.J. Carlesimo in an interview on ESPN Radio. "This season is this season. So I really want to just sit down with my team and sit down with the proper people to just kind of plan this thing out and see exactly what I have to do to get done and just to fix it."
Anthony made it very clear that he does intend to take the court during the All-Star game even if it is just to wave and thank the fans. The eight-time All-Star will be representing the home team since the game will played in Madison Square Garden. However, once the All-Star weekend is over, Anthony is focused on getting healthy and quickly. He understands that could involve surgery, something he wants done sooner rather than later.
"That's why if anything was to get done, I want to get it done right away so I'm not taking time and missing training camp and things like that," Anthony said. "When I come back to training camp, I want to be sharp."
Anthony is aware that the team is going to start looking very different. Trades are the priority heading into the deadline as Phil Jackson tries to build up the player personnel and relieve money issues before free agency. Amar'e Stoudemire is likely the next to go. According to ESPN, the forward and his agent are pushing for a buyout from the Knicks that would make him a free agent come March. Stoudemire has hinted that this is the likely outcome since most trade talk has gone unnoticed.
The Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers are the frontrunners to sign the forward. Anthony told ESPN that he is just remaining confident in Jackson and the front office to get things back on the right path.
"The fate is in the front office now," Anthony said. "As players, the only thing we can do is go out and try to compete on a nightly basis and try to get wins and try to get better. But I think the onus is on the front office, and they've got a task ahead of them to start building for now and for the future."