Carmelo Anthony rumors: Anthony to talk to Pau Gasol about playing for New York Knicks

Jan 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) shoots the ball as Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) defends during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 110-103. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

It seems like a foregone conclusion to most New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony will be re-signing with the Knicks when pen can officially hit paper and free agents can sign next week.

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Anthony sure is making things interesting. Since opting out of his contract and becoming an unrestricted free agent, Anthony has met with the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers.

Although it seems like big man Pau Gasol’s days in Los Angeles may be numbers, the Lakers believe he can help them land Anthony and Gasol would be fairly likely to re-sign in Los Angeles if Anthony was joining the team.

Anthony, on the other hand, has different plans.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, citing sources, Anthony has been pursuing a conversation with Gasol, not to talk about playing with the Lakers, but to talk about Gasol joining the Knicks. The Knicks are very interested in Gasol. His former Lakers’ head coach, Phil Jackson, is the Knicks’ president while Gasol’s former teammate, Derek Fisher, is their head coach. Gasol is obviously interested in speaking with Jackson and Fisher, but the Knicks have next to nothing to offer Gasol money-wise, making it a bit of long shot.

Gasol averaged 17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game last season. He shot 48.0% from the field, 28.6% from beyond the arc and 73.6% from the free throw line. Anthony put up 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and shot 45.2% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 84.8% from the free throw line last season.

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