Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  43 responses

Carmelo Anthony Angling to Join the Knicks?

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The longer Carmelo Anthony waits to sign the contract extension that his current team, the Denver Nuggets, has placed on the table, the more time the media and their “sources” will have to drum up controversy with these type of stories.

According to CBS, ‘Melo (a man currently exploring his options, limited as they may be) is more than a little intrigued by the possibility of playing in New York.

There’s just one large financial issue to deal with first:

Anthony, an ideal fit for the Knicks, already has told confidants this summer that he’s eager to explore playing in New York. His dilemma is whether to turn down a three-year, $65 million extension offer from the Nuggets with only 10 months left in the current collective bargaining agreement. The new deal is expected to be much less lucrative for players. Sources say owners who were rattled by this summer’s free-agent frenzy — orchestrated by CAA, which represented James, Wade and Chris Bosh — are determined to clamp down not only on player salaries in the new agreement, but also player movement.

Anthony’s desire to play in New York is so strong, sources say, that those close to the three-time All-Star have scoffed at the efforts of executives touting themselves as being able to deliver him. “Carmelo already wants to play in New York,” one person with knowledge of his plans told CBSSports.com. “He doesn’t need anybody to bring him there. He’s a gunslinger. That situation is perfect for him.”

Anthony’s teammate, Chauncey Billups, said after Team USA practice Tuesday that he still doesn’t know whether Anthony will sign the extension or test the free-agent waters next summer. “If I was a betting man? I don’t know,” Billups said. “Of course, I’m biased because I’m playing on the team that he’s playing on. But I’m optimistic that he’s going to come back and play for the Nuggets. I know he loves the city. Shoot, he’s been there since he was 20 years old. So I’m optimistic, but I don’t know. I wish I did, but I don’t.”

It’s a tough decision for Carmelo Anthony to make, to be sure: with the temptation to live and work in Gotham being what it is, and the chance that fellow superstars will follow suit, the only assurance at this point remains the money and security Denver is offering. Difficult to walk away from that, especially with the threat of a lockout looming.

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  • jasondolemite Posted: Aug.11 at 9:05 am
    he’ll be in NYC soon…

  • Fat Joe Posted: Aug.11 at 9:13 am
    i thoroughly believe that Melo will join terror squad

  • Eduardo Posted: Aug.11 at 9:23 am
    NY is a great fit for Melo. He’ll bring back the glory days. Be pretty cool if CP3 gets there too, but then again LeBron has already told CP3 that he should stay in the West.

  • LDR4 Posted: Aug.11 at 9:29 am
    Well MSG has brought out his “slap happy” side recently so let’s hope that if he joins the Knicks he will be in a much calmer mood and that Isiah Thomas will be at FIU and not employed by the team.

  • Mvp23100 Posted: Aug.11 at 9:37 am
    Do you melo come back east that’s home

  • T-Money Posted: Aug.11 at 9:51 am
    Haven’t we been through this already? I think now’s a good time for journalists to stop speculating and go back to reporting. A year ago, nobody had the three top free agents going to Miami. Weak intel.

  • IAMORANGE4EVER Posted: Aug.11 at 9:57 am
    The prodigal son of NYC will return to play for the New York Knicks! BOOK IT! I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it. Bottom line, Denver and New York should explore a trade before next season starts. I strongly feel Donnie Walsh and Bret Bearup can put their heads together, and figure out an offer Denver simply can’t refuse. :)

  • IAMORANGE4EVER Posted: Aug.11 at 10:02 am
    Carmelo has leverage in 2010, just like KG had in 2007. Just sayin’.

  • Groves Posted: Aug.11 at 10:18 am
    don’t leave

  • Thor Posted: Aug.11 at 10:19 am
    I just don’t like him in Denver no more, I really think they need a shakeup on that team.

  • Josh Posted: Aug.11 at 10:26 am
    i’d stay. nuggets are getting better (kinda with the addition of harrington. But once kmart is back, nuggets have more scoring off the bench than last season), they have been consitantly improving from the first round eliminations to the western confrence finals. Last year, they were playing the best basketball in nuggets franchise history before injuries kicked in and they still made the playoffs at the number 4 seed. They only failed because of the absence of George Karl.
    NY doesnt have a good team and has no depth, and there is no guarentee of cp3 coming(although they seem pretty good) and with the new cap stuff money would be an issue.Plus, would Melo really want to rebuild a team at this stage in his career. plus the knicks didnt really go anywhere this summer. honestly, i would rather have david lee than amare. Lee is younger and statistically better.
    Anyway, im a nuggets fan so im biased. but i still think my points are fair.
    MELO PLEASE STAY!!!

  • T-Money Posted: Aug.11 at 10:32 am
    Melo kinda has to decide if he wants to move in the top tier of NBA players or if he’s just happy scoring a lot of points. He has to start playing D and make the game easier for his teammates.

  • SpaceJam Posted: Aug.11 at 10:55 am
    @ T-Money, he does play defense now. Melo is an exceptional 1-on-1 defender and he is passing more. He doesn’t have gaudy assist numbers because Chauncy Billups is one of the best pg in the league; Mo Williams is a scrub.

  • T-Money Posted: Aug.11 at 11:00 am
    Mo Williams, what?! / I’d have to disagree on his defense, plain and simple. Notice how I didn’t talk about assists? Making the game easier for your teammates doesn’t mean necessarily mean making the pass that leads to the basket. Melo plays offense in a vacuum: he catches the ball in the mid post area and goes to work on his defender. Repeat.

  • dirty frank Posted: Aug.11 at 11:01 am
    Can we PLEASE just wait and see!? Did we not have enough of free agent saga last year?

  • The Seed Posted: Aug.11 at 11:21 am
    Melo needs to be in New York, he can handle the Heat and pressure. Also its better for the Lakers if Melo plays in New York next year. The East got more top teams now than West, Heat, Celtics, Magic and Bulls and next year Knicks with Melo. BOOK IT!!!

  • Kundai Posted: Aug.11 at 11:41 am
    @the seed. when ever you say book it i laugh haha. I would rather he goes to a place like utah, with deron williams, jefferson and melo, they would make serious noise. in the east it would be too tight like its good but damn these teams in the east are now beast if he goes there. but teh conference stregth will remain stable if he stays in the west.

  • DreXnaW21 Posted: Aug.11 at 11:43 am
    i think Melo is suffering from the LeEpidemic

  • PapaBearATL Posted: Aug.11 at 12:06 pm
    So many times athletes are criticized for just wanting those big dollars. When a player puts himself in a position to win, then the loyalty talk happens. It’s either loyalty to your legacy, loyalty to your franchise or loyalty to your wallet and taking care of your fam? Either way, you’re gonna disappoint someone, so he should do whatever he wants. Lebron would have gotten criticized for staying in Cleveland if he stayed, Bosch was real outspoken about players should want to come to Toronto to play with him. Reality is always flimsy, stick with your personal dreams!

  • Yesse Posted: Aug.11 at 12:41 pm
    It would sound good to me.

  • MusketeerX Posted: Aug.11 at 1:01 pm
    I’m assuming he is going to come via sign and trade. If he wants to go to NY, and is committed to FA to do so, then Denver will be forced to deal with NY to get something back. (Poor Gallinari). They will resign Melo so he can get his money, and then promptly trade him to NY for Gallinari, Eddy Curry, and either Anthony Randolph or Wilson Chandler. Perhaps less, considering Denver will have no leverage if Melo is as convinced as these reports are making him sound.

  • kundai Posted: Aug.11 at 1:09 pm
    @PapaBearATL.. you couldnt be more right

  • The Nupe Posted: Aug.11 at 1:16 pm
    Carmello has never stated any kind of loyalty to Denver so him returning to his ‘hometown’ of NYC wouldn’t be a surprise to many. Leaving that kind of money on the table would be a surprise though. It’s always hard to predict what a player is going to decide because there are so many moving parts. A lot of people expected Bosh to go to Miami with Wade, the real surprise was when the Heat made moves and was able to get Bron too. CP3 already “joked” about him and Melo going to NYC so this kind of player collusion may already be a done deal (similar to how some people think the heat deal was ‘done’ a few years ago). I wonder what kind of odds Vegas has on what Melo does.

  • EJ Posted: Aug.11 at 1:23 pm
    He should go to NY, cause that could become something great, especially if CP3 follows, Nuggets are very good, but they are not going anywhere in the west, cause there’s the Lakers. Amare, Melo, Galinari, Chandler and possibly CP3 would have the talent to go far, and it’s easier in the east, there’s not much great proven teams, only proven contenders are Boston and Magic, and they are worse than LA, Chicago and Miami haven’t proven anything yet. So NY should be better for him.

  • Coney Islander Posted: Aug.11 at 2:03 pm
    Come back home son, we need you! lol

  • Allenp Posted: Aug.11 at 2:15 pm
    The owners are going to cut down on player movement? How? Didn’t Curt Flood fight this battle already and have his career ended because of it?
    Sports owners are some shiesty bastards.

  • BETCATS Posted: Aug.11 at 2:21 pm
    It would be a good fit for him. They dont play defense. I always thought guys that go to NY go for the gratification, not to win games. The winning part just comes with going their if you are a big name, it is the new ego boost you get when you go to New York that draws players in. That is why Lebron said no and Amare”e’ said yes. I expect if Carmelo doesnt resign with the Nuggets (my guess is 50-50 he does) he will go to either the Knicks or the Nets. A Amare/Melo cross-town rivalry would be great for the league.

  • O Posted: Aug.11 at 2:22 pm
    I’ve said that Melo wants to come to NY as does CP3. So Isiah convincing Dolan that he can “deliver” is ridiculous. Come to NYC, Melo. You’ll be treated like a king for real.

  • Allenp Posted: Aug.11 at 2:27 pm
    Carmelo makes the game easier by his presence, but not by any overt actions.
    Plus, he makes up his mind whether he’s going to score or pass way too early, and if his jumper is not falling, he can become easily frustrated when the refs don’t bail him out with foul calls even though he initiates more contact than any player in the league.
    T-Money’s assessment is one I agree with.

  • BK Chris Posted: Aug.11 at 2:33 pm
    Melo should come to NYC! I’m not exactly sold on CP3 coming cuz alot can change in 2 years.

  • DP Posted: Aug.11 at 2:33 pm
    Dude is only a 3 time all star? That took my attention away from this whole post. Damn Melo was killing in the L more than not to only be a 3 time all star. NY would be a great fit for homie. I see him and Amare wrecking havoc in that city.

  • jack Posted: Aug.11 at 2:44 pm
    If he doesn’t sign then the KJnicks can trade for him after December 10th I believe. That’s when they can trade some of the guys they got from Golden State and their new free agent Felton. He would then fall under the larry Bird for next year.

  • Allenp Posted: Aug.11 at 2:56 pm
    He was in the East.
    He wasn’t about to beat out Dirk, Duncan, KG and Amare for a forward spot early in his career. Forward was the deepest position in the west for a long time.

  • bakers' dozen (12-13) Posted: Aug.11 at 3:24 pm
    He’s from Baltimore, not NYC> He shoudl sign with the bullets…
    :)
    Where was the love for Melo the last few years on this site? People were constantly dissing him. Now he MIGHT go to NYC, and fans are on his jock. Just goes to show that NYC fans are the most fickle on the block.
    If he re-signs with Denver, I guarantee you’ll be hating on him again.

  • JTaylor21 Posted: Aug.11 at 3:53 pm
    All your suckers that bit*hed and heavily criticized bron for leaving in the same fashion better do the same to Melo when he leaves for NY next year.

  • dfrance Posted: Aug.11 at 4:00 pm
    Born in NY, raised in BMore.
    @Allenp and T-Money Your assessments of Melo are spot-on, but that has nothing to do with him coming to NY. He’s either gonna step up and work on the little things or he’s not. It doesn’t matter what team he’s on.

  • dee Posted: Aug.11 at 4:01 pm
    When healthy, Melo is a top 5 player. He going to the Knics would make them contenders until he hangs it up! Something happended after the olympics with Melo, Bron, Bosh and Wade…they all got better. Almost like when the original Dream Team was assembled. Basketball got better. Melo coming out of college was supposed to be that dude. I think he’s finally figured it out. The time is now that he becomes that dude.

  • What? Posted: Aug.11 at 4:03 pm
    Fickle, huh? So you mean other posters who represent other teams wasn’t hating on him? He is playing for another team isn’t he? You are right he’s FROM B-More, but was BORN in BK and routinely visited NY when he was younger like Amare. For those saying the Knicks’ team this year is garbage, you’re idiots. Randolph, Amare, Chandler, Felton, Gallo, Douglas, Buike are trash? No, I just see a team that just turned the corner. you can guarantee that.

  • bakers' dozen (12-13) Posted: Aug.11 at 6:08 pm
    They’re better this year, that’s for sure, but I guarantee that the Nuggets (with or without Melo…well, maybe not without) win more than the Knicks do.

  • d-NYCe Posted: Aug.11 at 9:12 pm
    At this point NY needs change and so far it’s not that bad

  • d-NYCe Posted: Aug.11 at 9:20 pm
    Ny please offer Melo something! !!!

  • c_cantrell Posted: Aug.13 at 4:38 pm
    uhg……… boring………

  • Kiyaman Posted: Aug.17 at 4:25 am
    There’s to many young Knick Fans wanting the next NBA team franchise players.
    I like things the old fashion way, build a young offense/defense coaching staff, trade for first round picks, and develope our own franchise players. I guess thats to old fashion for Mecca fans

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