NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony meets with Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher

Now that New York Knicks’ president Phil Jackson has found the Knicks’ next head coach in Derek Fisher, the Knicks can’t completely dive into the offseason.

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Their first order of business will be trying to persuade forward Carmelo Anthony not to opt out of the final year of his deal (he has until June 23 to decide).

According to Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal, Anthony was scheduled to meet with Fisher and Jackson Thursday night.

"Carmelo Anthony is slated to sit down with Knicks team president Phil Jackson Thursday night in what figures to be the final meeting between the star forward and team executives before Anthony decides whether to enter free agency this summer, according to a person familiar with the matter.Their main assertion: Were Anthony to begin his free-agency process next summer, as opposed to this summer, he could potentially earn more money because he’d be eligible to earn a higher maximum value—close to $140 million over five years, rather than $129 million—in his next contract. For the team, there would be the added benefit of better calculating how much salary-cap space would be available to accommodate another star player or two."

Fisher and Jackson plan to use their championship pedigree (Fisher won five titles under Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers while Jackson has 11 total titles as a coach) and the triangle offense, which Fisher believes Anthony would thrive in, to convince him to stay.

However, Anthony is still expected to opt out.

Anthony averaged 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season and shot 45.2% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 84.8% from the free throw line.

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