Despite being on ‘emotional roller coaster,’ Melo says he’s found ‘peace’
BALTIMORE — A bearded Carmelo Anthony, after receiving an honorary medal from the mayor of Baltimore in a ceremony, said he has spoken with new Knicks general manager Scott Perry, called Phil Jackson’s firing “a business decision,’’ said the past 12 months have been “an emotional roller coaster’’ and admitted he didn’t know if he would be at Knicks training camp in September.
But through all the questions, Anthony maintained he is “at peace.”
Lauded at a community event by city officials for shining a beacon of light on Baltimore, Anthony shined little light on whether he wants to be back as a Knick and deflected most questions about his future.
“You know I can’t comment about all that,” Anthony said about his desire to be traded to the Rockets.
Anthony, hosting “The Basketball Tournament” in his hometown, revealed he and Perry have talked, but he hasn’t sat down with team brass. The Post reported team president Steve Mills and Perry want to meet with Anthony and have him expand his wish list.
Perry was with Detroit when the Pistons chose Darko Milicic over Anthony with the second pick of the 2003 draft.
“I’ve talked to him,’’ Anthony said. “We’ve communicated. I’ve known Scott for maybe 10 years. I’ve known him for a while, back to his Detroit days, the draft, 2003, all that. I’ve reminded him of [bypassing me].’’
In the midst of a feud, Jackson tried to run Anthony out of town before he was ousted himself in late June.
“I thought it was a business decision,’’ Anthony said. “[James] Dolan’s got to run his organization.”
New Knicks management believes it is best to execute its complete rebuild with an Anthony trade that would net them future assets. But Mills is willing to bring Anthony back if he can’t find a trade. For now Anthony’s focus is centered on the Rockets, though Portland and Oklahoma City have shown interest.
“An emotional roller coaster, an emotional roller coaster,’’ Anthony said of his past 12 months, which started with an Olympic gold medal. “But I had to find peace. I had to come to peace with myself and come to peace with kind of the situation I’m in and kind of try to find happiness. I kind of lost that a little bit, but I’m finding it now and it feels good.”
Asked directly the chances of him being at Knicks training camp, Anthony said: “I don’t know. I’m not talking about basketball right now.
“I’m good. We’re in Baltimore right now. I just cut a ribbon. That’s all I’m focusing on right now. I got a medal from the mayor today. So I’m good. I’m not really thinking about anything else at this point. I’m at peace. I’ve been at peace a long time ago. Now I’m just trying to enjoy my days at this point.”
During his press conference after the ceremony, Anthony was not asked about his recent personal woes with his separation from his wife, La La. It was Anthony’s first interview in four months after the Knicks’ season finale.
“I’ve been good,’’ Anthony said. “I’ve been away from the fray. You haven’t heard comments from me. I’m growing my hair out right now, spending time with the family. I’m being an AAU dad right now. That’s what matters to me at this point. Nothing else really matters.”
After receiving a medal from Mayor Catherine Pugh and putting it around his neck, Anthony addressed the 100 attendees, mostly children, plus his mother, saying, “This medal means more than the Olympic medal.’’
When Anthony spoke to reporters, the mayor stayed by his side. The event took place at Marshall Park, where, Anthony said, he remembered hitting home runs and scoring touchdowns as a child. Many of the protests over Freddie Gray’s police-related death took place two years ago in the same depressed neighborhood, with Anthony leading the marches.
“I’m glad I can be that, not pioneer, but one of the guys who carry the torch for the city and will continue to carry the torch,’’ Anthony said.
Carrying the torch for New York, where he was born and played six-and-a-half seasons, seems a thing of the past.