Knicks Rumors: Anthony, Vujacic, Porzingis, Lopez

Carmelo Anthony believes he can be a star in the NBA for another “four or five years,” according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. That would take the 31-year-old to at least the end of the five-year, $124MM deal he signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2014. Even though Anthony is about to start his 13th NBA season and had major knee surgery in February, he insists he can remain among the league’s elite players. “The way that I play,” Anthony said, “the way that I know how to pace myself, the way I know how to pick my spots out on the basketball court, I’m not a guy who’s playing above the rim every play, so it works in my favor.”

There’s more out of New York this evening:

• Sasha Vujacic has looked comfortable in his bid to return to the NBA, Begley writes in the same story. The former Laker stood out with his shooting and passing during portions of team scrimmages that were open to the media. When Knicks coach Derek Fisher was asked if Vujacic is the same player he remembers from when they were teammates in L.A. five years ago, he replied, “No, he’s better.”
• Confidence won’t be an issue for Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis, Begley writes in a separate story. As training camp wrapped up today, Fisher said Porzingis is a candidate for the starting power forward spot. “I played two years professionally [in Spain],” Porzingis said. “Obviously the level is not the same as here in the NBA, but I feel confident I’ll be able to play at this level.”
• Getting Robin Lopez as a teammate prompted Anthony to change his mind about the big man, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. The former Blazer is living up to his reputation for intensity at training camp after signing a four-year, $54MM deal with the Knicks in July. “I hated him as an opponent — a helluva pick-and-roll guy who set crazy screens,” Anthony said. “I used to think it was dirty, but now I think they are clean.’’