Dolan hopes Melo legacy is positive
No matter what happens to Carmelo Anthony at the trading deadline, Knicks owner James Dolan said he thinks the star he pined for in 2011 will leave New York with a positive legacy.
Dolan won’t say if he agrees with president Phil Jackson’s assessment the Knicks should trade Anthony by Feb. 23, but he still thinks he has done some good here.
“I think Carmelo really wants to win, he puts a tremendous amount of energy into it,’’ Dolan told The Post’s Mike Vaccaro on Friday. “He’s had a lot of success. We haven’t had as much success as we wanted as a team. He’s disappointed in that. I don’t think that’ll be his legacy as a Knick. When Carmelo Anthony is on fire, he’s unstoppable, boy, and a joy to watch. I hope that’s the way he’s remembered whether he finishes his career here or leaves us tomorrow.”
Jackson has indicated he doesn’t consider Anthony “a winning superstar,’’ by endorsing a recent negative article about the forward on his Twitter account while writing: “I learned you don’t change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.”
Jackson later tweeted his missive was “misunderstood’’ and tweeted out a peace sign.
As reported by The Post, Dolan said he’s not stepping in to make peace himself. He will let Phil be Phil.
“I do feel I made a good decision to put someone in charge of the team like this,’’ Dolan told The Post. “It was better than me being involved. I’ll continue with that. Basketball is really tough. I don’t have the skill set nor the understanding nor the years like someone like Phil has, who looks at a game and sees so much more than I do.. Hiring someone to take the whole thing over is the right thing to do.” Coach Jeff Hornacek played against the now-banned Charles Oakley and remembers his toughness.
“I know he’s a tough player,’’ Hornacek said before the Knicks’ 131-123 loss to the Nuggets. “I can remember thinking going into the games, if you drive the lane you better be ready. That’s the way he played. He always battled Karl Malone.”