Carmelo Anthony: I am a New York Knick at heart

When free agency began, many questioned if Carmelo Anthony would return to the New York Knicks. Sure, they could offer him the most lucrative contract but with poorly constructed roster, how many years could the All-Star afford to wait until the team returned to their former glory?

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Add in that teams like the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets, who courted the small forward with such vigor were likely championship contenders with Anthony on their roster, leaving the Big Apple seemed like a very possible scenario. But despite a mildly hilarious free agent tour, Carmelo Anthony says his heart never wavered and that he is a New York Knicks player at heart.

"At this pivotal juncture in my career, I owed it to myself and my family to explore all of the options available to me. Through it all, my heart never wavered.During this journey I met with some quality organizations who have amazing talent and leadership. I thank them for their consideration, belief in my talent, and opportunity to imagine the possibilities.I will always remember this chapter in my life. In the end, I am a New York Knick at heart."

While it’s a nice sentiment, if he was that tied to the New York Knicks organization he simply would have re-signed rather than visit other organizations in free agency. That’s not a knock on Melo by any stretch as any player in his position should test the market. But suggesting that he was always enamored with the Knicks seems a little odd considering the doubts regarding his return.

Either way, loyal or not, it’s hard to slice Carmelo Anthony’s return to the organization

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