Unlike fellow free-agent LeBron James, Knicks star Carmelo Anthony isn't coming home, he's staying home. Sources close to Anthony told ESPN.com that the high-scoring forward is in contract negotiations with the Knicks.
Anthony has informed the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, the two teams competing with the Knicks for his services, to move in another direction.
The Knicks are able to offer Anthony a 5-year, $129 million contract, more than any other team. It's possible Anthony might be willing to accept slightly less that $129 million, which would give the Knicks a better opportunity to sign another high-quality free agent in the future.
Memphis Grizlies center Marc Gasol is scheduled to become a free agent in 2015 and is already high on the Knicks' radar.
The easy part is done for the Knicks. But they need a second star to pair with Melo soon, writes @bbdoolittle. https://t.co/ewnoIFtGTQ (in)
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 12, 2014
However, the team as currently constituted is not a title contender.
Anthony said repeatedly throughout the 2013-14 season that he wants to play for an NBA championship-caliber team. The Knicks were far from contending for a title last season, finishing with a 37-45 record and failing to make the playoffs.
Despite the dismal regular season that was plagued by injuries and poor performances from several key players, the Knicks were still considered the favorites to retain Anthony - a native New Yorker who was born in Brooklyn, but spent much of his childhood in Baltimore.
It was Anthony and his wife, La La's, love of living in their hometown and the millions of dollars he'd leave on the table playing with another team that made signing elsewhere extremely difficult. La La Anthony is also a native
While most signs pointed to Anthony wearing a Knicks uniforms next season, he gave team fans a slight scare Thursday when it was reported that he had not answered several text messages from Jackson. As it turns out, there was no need for concern as Jackson intimated.
The two are communicating and a deal should get consummated soon.
The Knicks struggled last season and finished the year with a record of 37-45 and failed to make the playoffs.
All-time best PPG in Knicks uniform: Bob McAdoo: 26.7 Carmelo Anthony: 26.5 Bernard King: 26.5 Patrick Ewing: 22.8
— Numbers Never Lie (@ESPN_Numbers) July 12, 2014
In Anthony, the Knicks retain one of the NBA's best scorers. He averaged 27.4 points last season. And made his presence felt in the boards - grabbing 8.1 rebounds a game.
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