Carmelo Anthony Says Phil Jackson Makes the Knicks ‘More Attractive’ for Free Agents

So much for Phil Jackson not having any impact on Carmelo Anthony’s impending free agency. The All-Star forward admits that the splashy hire makes the New York Knicks a more attractive destination for free agents going forward. Per the NY Post:

“The big picture, absolutely, for the big picture this is definitely more attractive,” Anthony said after practice Monday.

And it certainly helps that the Knicks are playing their best basketball of the season. A season-high six-game winning streak, which will be severely tested Wednesday by the powerful Pacers, plus Jackson, has helped brighten the picture of what has been an otherwise dismal season for the Knicks.

“We’re playing our best basketball right now, than we’ve played all season as far as keeping it going, just trying to build on what we started so far,” Anthony said.

He noted of the Jackson hire: “Just to see that move happening, I think for everybody as an organization, as a city, as a whole, our fans in general as well, everybody’s excited to see that.”

And coach Mike Woodson, the guy whose fate is directly tied to Jackson, remained the loyal soldier talking about the positive aspects of the move.

“Anytime you bring someone in of this magnitude, Phil has done everything from a coaching standpoint, as a player he won,” Woodson said. “He can’t help but enhance the organization. There’s a buzz in the air. There’s a lot of excitement around New York and Knick Nation. Everybody’s excited about him coming in.”