Carmelo Anthony key to the Knicks fireworks this weekend
The weekend is far from over, but at this moment it appears New York will be celebrating Carmelo Anthony‘s signing this weekend.
If this happens and from my sources I am 90 percent positive, Anthony will be wearing a New York Knicks jersey again next season. If this happens hats off to Phil Jackson, with a huge assist from James Dolan.
It appears Anthony probed Knicks’ management on the franchise’s plan to restore a contending roster and left his meeting aligned with Jackson and Derek Fisher‘s vision, according to league sources reported by Yahoo! sports.
Anthony had direct questions for Jackson and Fisher during a Thursday meeting in Los Angeles, Anthony’s renewed confidence in the Knick vision and the $129 million, five-year maximum offer, seems to be moving Anthony to a New York State of mind.
A person familiar with the dynamics of Anthony’s free-agent tour told CBSSports.com that Anthony enjoyed the attention from the Bulls, Rockets, Mavericks, Lakers and the Knicks and is unlikely to resist the Knicks maximum offer.
According to CBS Sports, Anthony feels renewed confidence now with Jackson and Fisher in New York, along with Spaniard Jose Calderon, there is hope that Lakers’ free agent Pau Gasol might opt to switch coasts and join Anthony rather than continue toiling in the wildly competitive West.
However, the Bulls and Thunder remain compelling options for Gasol, who could offer more money. With the Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani in their last year of contract, Gasol may like the allure of playing alongside his brother in 2015, when the Knicks can sign the then to be free agent.
Jackson has done so much in such a short period of time. He has a plan, is a proven winner and so far has done more for New York in a month than Steve Mills has done in a year. Since taking over the Knicks, he fired Mike Woodson, hired Fisher, jettisoned Raymond Felton, acquired solid point guard Calderon, picked up three draft picks along with center Samuel Dalembert to man the middle.
More importantly Jackson represents change with a winning culture dynamic. He has followed Pat Riley‘s model of winning coach, who turned into winning management.
In review, the Bulls don’t have the money, the Lakers don’t have the talent. The Rockets are still cap limited and Houston is Houston. Mark Cuban is hard to resist, but Dallas plays in the tough Western Conference. The Knicks offer the most money, however Anthony can create a legacy by winning in New York. Walt Frazier stated that10 years from now the money ($30 plus million) will be more important to him than winning in any city outside New York. In NY, he can create legendary status for himself.
The Knicks have some talent, enough to make a move in the weak East. If Stoudemire and Bargnani remain healthy and Jackson adds a few more pieces to compliment Anthony, the Knicks can overtake Toronto at the top of the Atlantic Division.
With Tim Hardaway Jr., J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, the Knicks have a solid core of young talent.
So Carmelo, Jackson has done his job. Now it is your turn to go all in and help Jackson recruit players to join you.
You wanted New York and now have tasted the NY fame that no other city can offer. You were lost in Denver, now take the key to the city and finish what you started. Become the next Joe Namath, Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Derek Jeter.
“If you can win here, you can win anywhere, “NY, NY, your kind of town.”
Dr Eric Kaplan is a Bestselling author www.5minutemotivator.com,
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