Carmelo Anthony Says He Had 'Great' Meeting With Jackson, Knicks Brass
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Carmelo Anthony says his meeting with Phil Jackson and top Knicks brass "went well." But if he's already made up his mind about free agency, he's not saying.
Anthony, who can opt out of his contract this summer, sat down with Jackson & Co. last week to discuss his future. Though some reports indicated the forward had his mind set on testing free agency as planned, the New York Post reported that the Knicks left the meeting "satisfied."
"It was a great meeting with Phil," Anthony said Wednesday, according to the Post.
Jackson made his first major hire as team president this month, bringing in just-retired point guard Derek Fisher as head coach. But with no picks in the upcoming draft and limited cap space to work with next season, the Knicks will have to sell Anthony on the idea that patience will pay off.
It's been said that Jackson and Fisher could perhaps lure Kevin Durant to New York. Or maybe even LeBron James. But that's down the line. One player that could become available soon is Minnesota's Kevin Love, though pulling off a sign-and-trade could prove difficult.
"I like what Phil is doing," Anthony said.
The Knicks can offer him the most lucrative contract in free agency, but the 30-year-old might not want to stick around for a rebuilding phase. And Jackson has indicated he'd like Anthony to accept something short of a max deal to give the team flexibility. Another possibility: the forward could opt in and hit the open market after next season.
Meanwhile, the stacked Miami Heat are reportedly planning to make a run at Anthony, who has said his top priority is to play with a winner. The Mavericks could also be in play. Dirk Nowitzki recently said he'd "love" to have Melo in Dallas, should the All-Star want to be there.
Chicago and Houston are also possibilities.
"It would be great to have him," Rockets center Dwight Howard told USA Today. "I think he just wants to win right now. That's his only goal. I've always been a Melo fan. One thing he said in an interview a long time ago, I think my first or second year in the league, I remember him saying that if he could play with one guy in the league, he would play with Dwight Howard, so you never know. You never know what could happen."
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