Knicks News: Carmelo Anthony Wants to Win a Championship NOW

Mar 30, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) waits for play to resume against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Knicks 91-89. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) waits for play to resume against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Knicks 91-89. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Carmelo Anthony wants to win a Championship, and questions how the Knicks define success.


With a 102-90 loss to the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night, the New York Knicks 2015-2016 season finally came to a merciful end.

For the third straight season the Knicks did not make the Playoffs, causing many to wonder will superstar Carmelo Anthony decide to waive his no-trade clause. According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Anthony currently does not have any plans to waive his no-trade clause but does want to win immediately.

"“As of right now I’ll be here,”“No conversation has taken place as far as me leaving or me wanting to leave. I think everybody knows how I feel about being here with this organization in New York, playing for the Knicks.”“It’s just a matter of how do we get better? How do we move forward? How do we take advantage of this window that I have? I think that’s the main question: How can we take advantage of this window? How can we take advantage of this situation that we have that’s in front of us?”"

Anthony has shown a fierce loyalty to New York, previously saying ‘hell no‘ to waiving his no-trade clause. But now with yet another losing season, he wants to have some say in the organization, as per Ian Begley of ESPN.

"“If I’m going to be a part of this organization and the future of this organization, then I want to be a part of the decision-making in some way, shape or form.”"

Unfortunately… it looks like New York might have already made a VERY big and influential decision already… With many reports of Phil Jackson looking to remove the interim tag off of his good friend Kurt Rambis

This probably won’t sit well with Anthony, as Melo’s choice for head coach is reportedly Tom Thibodeau as per Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

"A source close to Anthony insists that his preferred choice is Tom Thibodeau, a coach Jackson seems to have no interest in speaking to."

Under Rambis’ stint, the Knicks were a horrendous 9-19… missing the Playoffs for the third consecutive season in a row… Something that is not lost on Anthony.

"“We still haven’t made progress enough to get to the postseason, to get to the playoffs,”“To not experience that over the past three seasons, it makes you question a lot. It makes you think a lot. It definitely put a lot of things into perspective.”“I want to win. I want to be able to be in that situation, and that position to compete at the highest level.”"

Telling quotes indeed. It must be disheartening to miss the Playoffs so many times in his prime, especially given the fact that he has made the postseason every year since entering the NBA, prior to arriving on the Knicks.

And it really does put things into perspective, when you look at the team as a whole… Other than Kristaps Porzingis, the future is not very bright for New York. Where will the help come from to help Anthony compete at the highest level?

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First off, everyone needs to opt out of deals, so that the Knicks even have a max contract to offer. Then, you have to HOPE a high caliber player actually wants to come to New York…With the Knicks finishing with the eighth-worst record in the league… why would any superstar player leave a better situation to join this dumpster fire… If that doesn’t put things into perspective for Melo, nothing will… and it seems he is well aware of this.

"“I don’t know, to be honest with you,”“What is successful for us as the New York Knicks? I think that is kind of the question that we have to ask ourselves as a whole organization. Not just winning another 15, 16 games than we did this year, playing for the eighth seed. Is that success? Or being a top seed in the Eastern Conference, being a top team in the NBA, is that success?”“Winning a championship is always the ultimate success, so I think we got to put things in perspective and figure out what success means to this organization right now.”"

If Jackson is indeed keeping Rambis on board for another season… it definitely does not seem like winning a championship is a priority for the organization right now. If anything, it might be the complete opposite. I HOPE that keeping Rambis is Jackson secretly tanking for next season! Since for ONCE the Knicks ACTUALLY have a first round draft pick next year…

With Anthony solely focused on winning here and now, there might a conflict of interest between the star player and the organization.

"“The only thing I think about is winning more,”“Whether it’s here or somewhere else, that’s the only thing I think about. I haven’t thought about putting myself on another team. I haven’t thought about any of that.”“My thought process is how can I make this situation better? What can we do to make this situation better? That’s the only thing I’m thinking about.”"

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Honestly, what will make the situation better, is if the Knicks were able to trade Anthony and get back young players or assets to line up with Porzingis’ timeline. With Anthony turning 32 years old in a month, and Porzingis not even legally able to drink yet… there is no way their timelines intersect. Porzingis is too raw to help Anthony on a Championship run, and when Porzingis enter his prime, Anthony will be on his way out of the league. It just does not make much sense for New York to keep Melo around.

Next: Jerian Grant Thriving as the Knicks Starting Point Guard

So in all honesty Anthony, the best thing for you to do, is waive your no-trade clause. So that the Knicks can start rebuilding for the future.