Daily Knicks
Fansided

NY Knicks: Projecting the roster with Chris Paul and Fred VanVleet

By Jeffrey Bellone

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers is guarded by Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during a preseason game at Staples Center on October 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers is guarded by Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during a preseason game at Staples Center on October 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 9
Next
Knicks
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 22: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives around Markieff Morris #88 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of Game Three of the first round of the playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /

Knicks Veteran Bench Piece: Carmelo Anthony

You knew this one was coming! I can already see the comments from Melo stans criticizing me for mentioning Carmelo Anthony after Dennis Smith Jr. in mapping out a potential bench for the Knicks next season. But don’t let the order of these slides confuse the importance of adding a player like Anthony to the roster next season.

While Melo indicated that he hopes to return to Portland where he found a home after being out of the league for several months last year, if his good friend Chris Paul comes to New York, perhaps he would follow. The two played together briefly in Houston, but their dream of teaming up could come to full fruition at Madison Square Garden.

The key in adding Anthony would be defining his role, with both the player and team giving a little. He is no longer a scoring champion, but he isn’t a back-of-the-rotation player either.

Perhaps reuniting with Mike Woodson – who relied on Melo as his primary scorer in leading the Knicks to 54 wins in 2012-13 – will reignite some magic. Coming off the bench or acting as a spot starter, Anthony could play power forward in the right match-ups and provide another shooting wing to Thibodeau’s arsenal.

Playing 58 games for Portland, he shot 43 percent from the field, including 38.5 percent from three, both his highest marks since 2016-17 and 2013-14, respectively.

If things work out, perhaps Anthony gets starter minutes, but having him as a veteran option next to a rookie like Obi Toppin in the rotation is an ideal set-up for the Knicks.

Home/Knicks News