Carmelo Anthony still has at least 16 games left as a Knick, but there are more signs that it will continue to be a rocky relationship.
Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News writes that Anthony seemed to be staging a “protest” Saturday night as he took just nine shots in a 20-point loss at Detroit. He rarely dribbled or tried to create shots and passed the ball quickly unless he was wide open. It’s only the third time in his career that he has played more than 35 minutes and takenfewer than 10 shots.
“We were just playing within the offense and just taking what they were giving me,” Anthony said with a smile after the game. “Just play the right way in this system.”
The system is Phil Jackson’s controversial triangle offense, which Anthony refuses to mention by name. He and Jackson clashed earlier in the season when the team president alleged that Anthony was holding the ball too long to make the offense work.
“It’s just hard for me to be talking about that in March, in the middle of March, to still be talking about our system and what we’re running instead of just playing basketball,” Anthony said Saturday.
It’s the latest sign that Anthony and the Knicks could be headed for a breakup this summer after another disappointing season. At 26-40 and six and a half games out of the eighth spot, they are almost certain of missing the playoffs for a fourth straight year.
Jackson contacted the Clippers, Celtics and Cavaliers to attempt to work out a deal for Anthony before the deadline, and the consensus is that he will try again this offseason. Anthony will make $26,243,760 next season, then has a $27,928,140 early termination option for 2018/19. There’s also the matter of his no-trade clause, but Anthony might be more likely than ever to approve a deal to join a winning organization and escape the triangle.
Boston might be a good fit if he won’t pick up his option. A one year stop gap to see if you can grab a star in the next FA class since Gordon Hayward is the only FA this year I’m hearing about considering Boston.
He doesn’t have an option next season. Melo is under contract for 2 more seasons
No he has an option in 18/19. So he’d be a 1 yr addition for cheap and he’d be one of their best players.
If the Celtics trade for Anthony they would lose 50 percent of their season ticket holders. They are better off without him. He would destroy the offense and make the defense weaker.
No.
No Carmelo in Boston. Ever.
Melo would fit in well in Sacremento. Dude still doesn’t know what playing basketball is all about.
What is it all about?
Carmelo is a cancer. Very selfish player that any organization should look at seriously before making a deal.
Yes I heard that he actually gave George Karl cancer
Yawn…
Jackson should step down and Anthony needs to grow up…… no way I want him on my team …. he’s just a waste of talent, money, and space. Let the Cavs or the Celtics have the cancer.
Oh you own a NBA team now?
Lol
Glg clearly stands for Mark Cuban… duh!
He’s just making it harder to find a team that wants him. I wouldn’t take him on the cavs for free
The Bermuda Triangle is really in New York, where all players go to die
Lol
X2
Melo is the superstar that never really was a superstar. Only in his own mind. Unless he wants to come off the bench at the end of his career (which is right now), he will never win a championship.
Come to Cleveland and play for the Browns. You’ll fit right in with “stars” who play like bums. Not your sport? Who cares. Our front office hires baseball people anyways. We’ll sign you.
Can you please trade Melo
You are all disrespectful! Melo is a franchise player who has been so loyal to NY. This is very similar to the crap that was talked about Patrick Ewing in the 90s. Granted he went to the playoffs and eventually to the finals twice in 94′ and 99′ but he had superior coaching and the same core players around him for consecutive seasons. Melo hasn’t had anything remotely similar and, Jackson admitted this season was High Risk/High Reward. It unfortunately turned out to be the former we are all sickened by as Knicks fans this season. The problem with the Knicks is much more complicated then one player so lighten up on the guy he loves NY. The guy plays his best ball night in night out even with the confusion and complicated bulk of issues this year’s team is trying to endure.
Carmelo is loyal to the dollar. That is the only reason he came back to NY is because they are the ones that could give him the most money and lets face it there is no bigger media market than NY.
The only reason he is considered a star is because he shoots the ball more than anyone … give me a 100 shots a night and ill probably score 30 points a night too. He only cares about his own stat line and could care less about the rest of the team / game. I stopped watching the Knicks when they resigned him. I hear great things about the new kid KP but i know he will never be as good with melo there hogging the ball and not playing team ball.
Probably time to bench him since he wont work the system the office and coach are implementing and see what the other guys can do especially with them not making the playoffs again this year.
Melo couldn’t wear Ewing’s joke. All he cares about is money and his brand! He has no idea what team basketball is all about and is a black hole. He’s the type of player who would get picked last on the playground court!
That should be jock!
Melo has been protesting this offensive system for 3 years in that he doesn’t adhere to it. He didn’t adhere to D’Antoni’s offense either. Whether the offensive system a team runs should be decided by the front office is besides the point. As are the Knicks other issues. As is his supposed love of NYC. The guy plays no defense, and has made it impossible for every coach to run an offense, other than the freelance offense he wants, and I guess what he defines as “just playing basketball”.