Carmelo Anthony diagnoses what kind of player the Knicks are missing

There's been a lot of superstar talk surrounding the New York Knicks. The problem is that there isn't a current star on the market that the Knicks should pursue.

Zach LaVine could be traded, but he certainly isn't the star New York should go after. Anyway, he prefers to stay away from the Knicks and go to the Lakers. More prominent names could be available between now and the Feb. 8 deadline, but don't expect a superstar like Joel Embiid to be traded.

On his new podcast with The Kid Mero, Carmelo Anthony reiterated that New York needs a superstar. Mero said the Knicks need a player like Melo, LeBron, or KD. Acquiring a player like that will be easier said than done, which is why it's taken the front office so long to make a move they feel is right for the organization.

If only New York could add prime Melo to its current squad. The legend agreed that he would've made the Knicks a "special team" but that there aren't players like him in the league anymore.

Carmelo Anthony says he would've made current Knicks a 'special team'

Melo said that New York already has two stars in Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle (who he called a force), as well as the best shot blocker in the game. He referred to Randle as "the next guy next to the guy," meaning the current starting power forward would complement whichever superstar the Knicks get.

Anthony said New York already has a "really good team" but is missing another piece. Mero noted again that the Knicks need a guy like Melo, to which Anthony laughed and said, "I'm done."

Besides drafting Kristaps Porzingis, New York didn't surround Melo with star talent. The Knicks didn't make it to the Eastern Conference Finals with Anthony, a feat they haven't accomplished since 2000. Brunson can help guide New York that far, but with teams like Milwaukee and Boston having superstars on the roster, the Knicks need something more.

As Melo noted, whichever superstar New York goes after will need to be able to handle the pressure that comes with playing for the Knicks. That superstar currently isn't on the market, but maybe that player will (hopefully) come along.