JAX’S TAKING
Carmelo tells Phil he’s staying
WIELDING THE power of a no-trade clause and faced with pressure to accept a relocation, Carmelo Anthony informed the Knicks he’d rather stay in New York, according to Phil Jackson.
The team president revealed that significant nugget Wednesday, while simultaneously acknowledging he’s listening to trade offers for Kristaps Porzingis.
In related news, the Knicks are a mess.
“We’ve expressed the fact that we haven’t been successful and it might be time for (Carmelo) to find an opportunity to go somewhere else. He’s come back and said he’d just as soon stay,” Jackson said on the team’s network.
Still, Jackson isn’t giving up on his quest to trade Anthony.
“There’ll be conversations after the draft and after the free agency as teams start reorganizing their rosters. So there will be other conversations in the process,” he said.
Anthony was given the no-trade clause by Jackson during their contract negotiations in 2014, just before the Knicks reeled off a record of 80-166 over three seasons. Jackson has since sold a rebuild, while taking the rare step of publicly placing his star player on the trading block.
“We have not been able to win with him on the court at this time and I think the direction with our team is that he is a player that would be better off somewhere else and using his talent somewhere he can win or chase that championship,” Jackson said immediately following last season.
Anthony, however, has a small list of agreeable destinations, including the L.A. Clippers and Cavaliers. He has no incentive to agree to a trade elsewhere since the alternatives are to collect his paycheck in the comfort of his luxurious Manhattan pad or get bought out and choose his next team in free agency.
Amidst rumors of infidelity and separation from his wife Lala, Anthony has not spoken publicly since the end of last season. But he has received an outpouring of support from fellow NBA players regarding his treatment from Jackson, leaving the Knicks in a The perfect pairing with last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons, because Fultz can play off the ball. Boston GM Danny Ainge didn’t believe Fultz could help the Celtics right away yet that won’t be a problem with the Sixers. Ainge could regret making this deal. Offensive rebounding is his specialty but he’ll need to improve dramatically at the other end of the floor if he wants to be a starter. Magic Johnson and the Lakers get the point guard they’ve coveted for months. Ball is athletic and smart in a Jason Kidd type of way. He also has a funky jump shot that needs to improve. One scout says Ball will struggle driving to his right and getting his shot off because of his delivery. Has all the physical tools to stick around for 10-plus seasons. But does he have the passion for the game? That’s the question a lot of NBA teams are asking. situation where top free agents aren’t even considering New York.
Anthony has $53 million remaining on his contract and also has a 15 percent trade kicker. Combined with the notrade clause, the market for the 32-year-old is severely diminished.
To compare, Dwight Howard was just traded from Atlanta to Charlotte for two bench players in a salary dump.
Jackson told Knicks fans to keep whatever faith remained.
“Well, I think we know what we’re doing. That’s all I can say to them. Although it’s not been apparent in our record the last couple years, we’ve grown from within,” he said.
“We’ve got young players that are on the move up. It takes time to rebuild with youth. And I think they have confidence in the fact that we’re going to have good players, we’re going to have a good team and we’re going to be on the court competitive.” Danny Ainge is targeting Josh Jackson but the Kansas small forward did not grant the Celtics a workout. So much for the idea that Boston traded down to get the player they wanted. They could still take Jackson but Tatum now makes the most sense. He’s a better scorer than Jackson and can make an immediate impact. Returned to college and helped UNC win a national title. Made 105 3-pointers as a junior, 70 more than he did the previous season.
CARMELO ANTHONY
Phil Jackson could have taken the high road by extending an olive branch to the Knicks’ most promising player and ending this silly cold war once and for all. That would have been the prudent move for a failing 71-year-old basketball executive. Jackson would have looked like the bigger man here. Instead, the Knicks president chose door No. 2, the one with a tank of gasoline and a box of matches. And he may have reached the point of no return with Kristaps Porzingis. “As much as we love this guy,” Jackson said late Wednesday on MSG Network, “we have to do what’s good for the club.” And what’s good for the club? “The future,” Jackson responded, apparently unaware that Porzingis