New York Knicks Rumors: Will Carmelo Anthony bolt for Hollywood?
By Phil DeMeo
Now that the NBA season is over, football still a little while away, and the MLB season at its half waypoint, news and rumors will be coming out of nowhere. There’s not much going on in sports right now so people will be talking hypothetical scenarios.
Carmelo Anthony signing with the Los Angeles Lakers next season is one of them.
May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) shouts out instructions from the bench as the Knicks play against the Indiana Pacers in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony forced the Denver Nuggets to ship him to New York. He basically told every other team that he would not sign an extension with them because he wanted to play in New York so badly.
He has fully embraced New York and I am confident New York has returned the favor. He is hands down the team’s most popular player and is beloved by fans. If Anthony can deliver Knicks’ fans a title, he can possibly go down as best Knick ever.
Carmelo, along with LeBron James, has an opt-out in his contract after next season. Players usually opt-out to get a bigger contract or enter free agency. In the NBA, a player’s current team can offer him the most years and most money.
If Anthony opts-out, which he most likely will do, he can sign a five-year deal worth $129 million. Any other team can offer him the max contract of four-years’ worth $95.8 million. So right there the Knicks have the edge over any other team.
The team you are going to hear the most buzz about is the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant will be on the final leg of his career and will want one last shot at the elusive sixth title, tying the one and only Michael Jordan.
Kobe has been very open to playing with Carmelo Anthony, who has won two straight gold medals. A few years ago Kobe said that Melo would be his top choice if he could play alongside one current star.
“I would actually like to play with Melo. Championships are won on the inside and I’m always thinking about winning a title. I would love to play with Melo because I would know that I have an inside presence. That’s really been the biggest strength with our Lakers team.”
That’s some pretty big praise from the Mamba, who chose to play with Melo over players like LeBron, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade.
The Lakers will have the cap room to sign Melo or another big name now that Dwight Howard has left and Pau Gasol is also going to be a free agent after this season.
When it comes down to it, Anthony loves playing in New York. He wants to win a championship here and be the savior of New York basketball. The lights of Hollywood and Kobe’s whisper in his ears might interest him, but it just wouldn’t feel right. Melo has called New York home and has fully embraced being the franchise player of the best city in the world’s basketball team. His wife LaLa also loves New York, and we all know you have to keep the wife happy.
Melo would be chasing rings in L.A. with Kobe and not doing it himself in New York, just like he set out to do.