The Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers went to great lengths in their attempts to woo free agent Carmelo Anthony.
As it turns out, those efforts might be all for naught.
Barring a last-minute change of heart, Anthony is planning to re-sign with the New York Knicks, a source close to the player told the New York Daily News on Wednesday.
The source added that Anthony is expected to make an official announcement about his future Thursday.
“He is really torn because this is the biggest decision of his career,” the source said, via the Daily News. “But he wants to get it done in New York. He told me he believes in (Knicks president) Phil (Jackson).”
The Knicks failed to make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons in 2013-14, prompting many to believe Anthony would leave New York for greener pastures. Yet the Knicks overhauled their leadership by hiring Phil Jackson as their team president in March and Derek Fisher as their head coach in June, two moves that apparently were enough to convince Anthony to stay.
The source added that Anthony also was pleased with the Knicks’ addition of point guard Jose Calderon, who was acquired via a draft-night trade with the Mavericks. Jacskon reportedly also expressed interest in bringing center Pau Gasol, a free agent who last played for the Lakers.
