Carmelo Anthony Weighs In On Knicks’ Future
The 2014-15 NBA regular season has been the worst in New York Knicks history. That isn’t hyperbolic, but instead factual; New York lost a franchise-record 65 games for its first 60-loss season ever.
For perspective, the Knicks’ inaugural season was in 1946-47.
Nevertheless, franchise player and 2013 scoring champion Carmelo Anthony hasn’t lost faith in president of basketball operations Phil Jackson. In fact, he believes that 2014-15 was a necessary disaster.
Per Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the summer of 2015 will mark the true beginning of the Anthony-and-Jackson era.
"“That was one of the reasons I decided to come back. For me to have faith in [Jackson] and believe in his capabilities,” Anthony said. “[This is] kind of like a clean slate for us and for him. Now we really get a chance and he really gets a chance to put a stamp on what we want this organization to be about, what he wants this team to be about, what players he wants in here.”Anthony later added: “This next season for me and for the organization and for Phil, this is where we earn our money.”"
Anthony has a point.
New York will have roughly $25 million in cap space and a Top 5 selection in the 2015 NBA Draft. Thus, the possibility exists for Jackson to find the Knicks both a future franchise player in June and an established star—or two—via free agency.
In contrast to 2014-15, when the goal was to clear up cap space, the Knicks will be looking to build around the players who will be on the 2015-16 roster.
One option that has been discussed—mostly amongst the media and fan base—has been the possibility of New York trading its first-round draft pick. A Top 5 pick generally nets great value, and it could be used to acquired an established star.
Anthony would like to see the Knicks hold onto theirs.
"“This year we have money and cap space. So if we do want to take our pick, then we still have almost $30 million in cap space to kind of make some plays, make some big plays,” Anthony said. “So I think you do have to start, I think you need a draft pick. I think if we get the top pick, we take our chances with who we draft, regardless of who that is, and we build other pieces around that with the money that we have.”"
It’s hard to argue.
Jackson has never been the general manager—or in this case, the president of basketball operations—for an NBA Draft. What he has done, however, is develop young talent into stars as a head coach who won 11 NBA championships.
See Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum for prime examples of that truth.
It’s rare that a rookie enters the NBA and has a championship-caliber impact, but that shouldn’t be a reason for pause in New York. Landing a draft pick with star potential could create a learning curve in the short-term, but it would help to create sustainability once success is discovered.
If The Zen Master is able to construct a talented enough roster, ‘Melo believes that the Triangle Offense would be the perfect system to bring it all together.
Carmelo says he has faith in the triangle offense. Says it can work if #Knicks add talent to the roster. May read as a slight but it wasn't
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 16, 2015
There aren’t many things more important in sports than having a franchise player who’s committed to the front office’s vision.
The question at hand is simple: what type of star could the Knicks realistically acquire? We’ve all heard the names—LaMarcus Aldridge, Goran Dragic, Greg Monroe, Rajon Rondo and so forth—but it’s important to have a healthy working relationship and dynamic between the two stars.
If New York does sign something of a ball-dominant star, Anthony would be willing to play second-fiddle if it helped the team.
"Anthony, 30, was asked whether he’d be willing to be the second option on the team if Jackson brought in another star player. “Oh yeah, I don’t have a problem with that. If I had a chance to be the second option, I will definitely be the second option,” Anthony said. “That just takes the load off of me. For me, I don’t have to go out there and do it every night. So I think everybody, All-Star players, we want that light, we want to be the focal point of our team, of our organization. But if we get somebody to come in and help us out, that’s a load off of us. That’s helpful to me, that’s helpful to the other star that’s coming in, that’s helpful to the whole team.”"
That’s bigger news for 2016 than it is 2015.
Anthony is likely to be the top scorer in New York, regardless of whom Jackson acquires this coming summer. In 2016, however, bigger names will be on the market; names such as Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
That’s not to say that either player will sign in New York, but the opportunity exists. The salary cap will rise meteorically in 2016, which gives a major-market organization like the Knicks an incredible opportunity to net a big name.
If nothing else, Anthony has made it clear that he believes in Jackson. Moreover, he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to win—even if that means sacrificing his personal gain.
Anthony had some concerns earlier in the season, but he’s committed to the Knicks in every possible way.
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