With Derek Fisher fired as head coach and the New York Knicks falling further from their goal of a championship, all eyes shift to Carmelo Anthony and his future with the franchise. Anthony is in the prime of his career and re-signed with the Knicks in hopes of getting a title sooner rather than later. That plan is falling apart and many wonder if Anthony is preparing to waive that no-trade clause in his contract.
According to Anthony via ESPN.com, he is committed to the Knicks and has plenty of faith in Phil Jackson for the future. Anthony originally re-signed with the Knicks because he thought Jackson would be the guy to fuel a championship for the Knicks. That is taking a long time, but the star stressed he has patience and faith that everything will come together.
"This is something I didn't see coming, [that] nobody saw coming," Anthony said, via ESPN.com. "So you have to continue to put your trust into Phil. At this point, what could you do? Can't shy away from that. Can't go against it. So for me, it's continue. I have to trust in it. I decided to stay here. I decided to make that decision to trust in the Knicks and trust in Phil. I have to continue doing that."
At the end of last season Anthony stressed the Knicks simply cannot have a repeat of a losing season. They are well on their way of duplicating what happened during the 2014-15 season which had many people believing Anthony would seek a trade elsewhere. However, instead he is saying that he has been through worse and at this point he has become immune to all the changes in New York.
More changes could be headed the team's way. On Tuesday Jackson told the media that he will be seeking big trades and big free agents this offseason in order to improve the roster and move forward towards a championship or even just a playoff series. The Knicks have the cap space to acquire players like Al Horford, Kevin Durant or Mike Conley in free agency. Jackson is thinking bigger and better, but much of that will be determined by who is hired as the head coach and who sticks around on the roster. Anthony's star power was not enough to win over big names last summer. The addition of Kristaps Porzingis could help lure some people in, but that remains to be seen.
Anthony is making it clear that his goal is still the playoffs. He believes the Knicks are suited to make a run with Kurt Rambis taking over as head coach. The New York Post reports that Luke Walton and Tom Thibadeau will be targets as permanent replacements to Fisher. Anthony is hopeful things change for the better.
"Yeah, I mean, I done been through worse. I done been through worse," Anthony said, via ESPN.com. "At this point, you become kind of immune to all the B.S. that goes on and the politics. You become immune to that. So my goal is to continue playing basketball, focus on the group of guys that I have in there and leave that faith to management, to the front office."
