Carmelo Anthony might not be admitting it, but as the losses continue for the New York Knicks, he is starting to think about his future. It is no secret the forward can opt out of his contract at the end of the season and go elsewhere. Speaking briefly on the matter, Anthony admits he believes LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade made the best move by teaming up.
Anthony has been watching first-hand as the Miami Heat continue to dominate. After winning two championships, they are in the mix for a third. A large part of that is because the Big 3 cam together in free agency. While interviewing with NBA TV, Anthony admitted the move was smart and could inspire what he does.
"They were smart," Anthony told NBA TV's Ahmad Rashad. "I think it's smart. It was their choice."
Take that comment for what it is worth. For someone that is preparing to enter free agency, could Anthony decide to do the same. There are certainly teams that are prepared to offer him a top dollar deal and have the assets to pair up with Anything. Cough, cough, Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant.
"I'm not saying I want to go somewhere else," Anthony said. "When I first got to New York, I always told myself it would be a three- to three-and-a-half-year plan just to rebuild. I knew we took a step backwards as an organization for me to get here. So we had to rebuild. You're not going to build a mansion in a year or two years. It takes time. That's where I'm at right now."
Anthony will have to decide between money or players. The Knicks can offer him the biggest contract in the range of a five-year, $129 million deal. Other teams can only put up $95 million over four years according to ESPN. However, the Knicks have no salary cap room for a summer move. They traded away all first-round picks until 2017. Why stay? He could be "the man" in New York, but that is clearly not enough to win championships.
Anthony will certainly have some decisions to make. The Lakers will welcome him with open arms. The Celtics could do the same. If he is interested in teaming up with other super stars like the Big 3, his time in New York could be over.
