Carmelo Anthony rumors: Phil Jackson expects Anthony to re-sign with New York Knicks
New York Knicks’ free agent Carmelo Anthony was expected to take last weekend to make a decision, but as of Thursday evening, Anthony had yet to inform any team of his intentions and is reportedly reconsidering the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls once appeared to be the leader for his services, but has since seemed to have fallen behind.
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Anthony visited with the Bulls in Chicago, touring their facilities and meeting with many in the organization. He then traveled to Texas to meet with the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks, but neither seems to be a real threat to acquire him. Next up, he went west to visit the Los Angeles Lakers and he also met with the Knicks while he was there.
Although all of those teams can offer Anthony a more talented roster, the Knicks believe president Phil Jackson would ultimately sway Anthony to return to the Knicks.
Although he hasn’t spoken to him since last week, Jackson expects Anthony to re-sign.
“I felt really good about my conversation with Carmelo,” the Knicks president said Thursday afternoon via Al Iannazzone of New York News Day. “We really struck a chord. The two of us feel really passionately about what we’re trying to get accomplished. It’s his ability to stay, be patient, lead and watch us develop a winner.
“There’s no instantaneous winner that we think is going to happen to the Knicks right now, but we’re going to be a lot better.”
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.