Unable to take the court because of knee surgery, the Knicks‘ Carmelo Anthony is doing a little front office work, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Anthony is offering his input into free agents he would like to see the team pursue with projected cap space of at least $25MM. “He is very much a part of the process of trying to understand what we’re looking for, how we’re going about it,” New York GM Steve Mills said of Anthony’s role in the process.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks‘ Tim Hardaway Jr. is hoping to salvage what he can from a disappointing season, Begley writes in a separate story. Even though he has a wrist injury that hasn’t fully healed, Hardaway plans to be active for the team’s final six games. He offered a blunt assessment of his performance. “I’m not going to sugarcoat anything,” Hardaway said of his second season in the league. “It wasn’t the year I wanted to have. I know that, and I know the guys on my team know that, as well.” Still on his rookie deal, he is one of just five Knicks with guaranteed money for next season. He has been surrounded by trade speculation, as he is one of the few valuable trade pieces the Knicks have on their roster.
- The Sixers will have a difficult decision if they wind up with the second pick in the draft, writes Tom Moore of Calkins Media. While centers Jahlil Okafor of Duke and Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky are considered the top two prospects, Philadelphia seems to be set in the frontcourt with Nerlens Noel, injured rookie Joel Embiid and the rights to Dario Saric, who is expected to join the team in 2016. With a need for backcourt help, the Sixers could opt for Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell or international point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, or they could look to trade the pick.
- Malcolm Thomas, who was waived by the Sixers earlier this season, has signed with Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico, the team announced via Twitter (translation via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). Thomas averaged 2.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17 games with Philadelphia this season.