NBA Free Agency 2014: New York Knicks like their chances to re-sign Carmelo Anthony
With several teams courting Carmelo Anthony during the first free agency of the superstars career, the New York Knicks are feeling “positive” about their chances to re-sign the small forward following their meeting in Los Angeles reports Ian Begley.
"After their big sit-down with Carmelo Anthony in Los Angeles on Thursday, the Knicks are feeling “positive” about their chances of re-signing him, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting.Anthony received Knicks president Phil Jackson’s message “well” during the meeting, in which the Knicks verbally offered Anthony a maximum contract worth $129 million over five years.A Yahoo! Sports report Friday stated that Anthony and Jackson are “largely aligned.”"
The New York Knicks can’t offer Carmelo Anthony instant contention like the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets can. The city of New York can’t offer Anthony, and his wife, luxurious living like the Los Angeles Lakers can. But New York and Phil Jackson have at their disposal that no one else possess is a fifth year on Anthony’s next contract that could pay out to nearly $30 million dollars.
And if you’ve paid attention to Carmelo Anthony’s career, money is an important factor. During the last days of his tenure as a Denver Nugget, Anthony made it a priority to be traded to the New York Knicks rather than go through free agency. Why? So he could remain eligible for a contract extension that would pay out more than a team in free agency could offer. That same extension is similar to what New York has put on the table: one more year, a couple more millions.
As the New York Post reported, Carmelo Anthony is expected to make his decision in the next 24 hours, so we’ll see if Anthony feels similarly to the Knicks.