The New York Knicks have signed star Carmelo Anthony to a near max contract and the two teams are working out the details, as he has informed the team he wants to stay in NY, according to ESPN.com and this comes as Phil Jackson reportedly could look at a trade involving Iman Shumpert, Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani or Tim Hardaway to make room for free agnets like Luol Deng and others.
According to ESPN.com, Anthony and the Knicks are working on a deal now and he has informed the team that he wants to remain after heavy interest from the Bulls and Lakers. ESPN writes that the deal is over $122 million, but less than the $129 million max deal he can get.
This comes after more than a year of speculation about what Anthony would do, as he came out of last season likely opting out and many wondered what he would do. With LeBron to Cleveland, Anthony made his move.
Anthony leading into last season was coming off of a scoring title and after averaging nearly 30 points per game, the free agent to be was looking to be just that. According to ESPN.com, Anthony spoke in an interview with the New York Observer about his future earlier in the year and the and he said that he would like to be a free agent, saying that he thinks every player in the league wants to be that at least once in their career. Anthony of course was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and later traded to the Knicks, so he has never had the chance to be a free agent.
Anthony compared the idea of being a free agent to an "evaluation" and said it was an experience that he wants and while many fans could see that as being disloyal to his team, it's Anthony's right as a player and as someone who has never been a free agent, one could see why he would want to give it a try. If Anthony hits the market, the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls all could be suitors for his services and obviously the Knicks will be in the mix as well. Anthony is making over $20 million this season and has two years left on his deal and this is the first year that he can opt out.
The Knicks have the inside edge over other teams, as Anthony can make the most money by staying in New York, making him over $120 million for five years, or he can sign elsewhere he can earn just under $100 million for four years. Anthony has remained tight-lipped about his plans for free agency and the Knicks have publically stated that they want to try and keep him. The Knicks gave up quite a but when they acquired him from the Nuggets and now the Knicks have had the most sustained success they have had in the past decade.
Anthony is looking to win that elusive NBA championship much like LeBron James was for years and that is one of the only major accomplishments missing from his resume along with an MVP award. Anthony has been in the league for 10 years and while the Knicks feel they have improved their roster from last season, they have a tough conference of teams with the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls to deal with.
Anthony comes into the season after averaging 28 points with nearly seven rebounds and three assists per game and he will have plenty of pressure on his shoulders throughout the year. Getting past the Miami Heat is the goal of every team in the NBA since they are the champions and the Knicks will have to do that to even make an appearance in the finals. The Knicks won over 50 games and the division two years ago and now they will have to battle an improved Nets team and the return of Derrick Rose in the East.
