According to team president Phil Jackson, the New York Knicks cannot sign marquee free agents until they start to win. The team is hopeful that begins soon as they look to build for the future. Carmelo Anthony is making it clear that he fully intends to be a part of that future after reports surfaced he would be requesting a trade should the Knicks lose this season. Kobe Bryant on the other hand is saying he will not be heading to New York to join in with Jackson.
Bryant has yet to really discuss his future as he plays out the final year of his contract that his him the highest-paid player in the league. Bryant is making it clear that retirement may or may not be in his future, but one thing certainly not in the picture is playing for the Knicks. Bryant told the media that if he were to return next year, it would likely be with the Lakers.
"A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships," Bryant said, via ESPN.com. "I'm a Laker, man. I'm a Laker for better or worse."
With Bryant taking himself on the list, is Kevin Durant on it? It is no secret that Durant will be a free agent in the coming offseason. He has made it very clear that no decision has been made about his future despite reports from media personnel like Stephen A. Smith saying he was heading to the Lakers. Smith also said that Anthony would be recruiting Durant to the Knicks and while that might end up being true next offseason, the former MVP is stressing that the reports are false.
"I don't talk to Stephen A. Smith at all. Nobody in my family, my friends -- they don't talk to Stephen A Smith. So he's lying. If you ask me a question, I'll talk about them. But like I said before, I have people who I talk to about everything, and I know for a fact they didn't talk to him, so he's making up stories," Durant said, via ESPN.com.
One player that plans to be with the Knicks for years to come is Anthony who is once again defending his future with the franchise. Anthony stressed he plans on playing at an elite level for years to come and that will be with the Knicks regardless of reports. Anthony told reporters, "I'm here to stay" when asked about recent talk of trades.
The Knicks will try and make upgrades next year. There are several players that could be targeted including Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies, Dwight Howard with the Houston Rockets and Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks. If the Knicks can get some wins, Jackson will chase the big names.