Is Carmelo Anthony’s tenure with the New York Knicks coming to an end?
The Knicks lost 116-111 to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, marking their eighth defeat in the last 10 games. New York still is just 2.5 games out of a playoff spot in a lackluster Eastern Conference, but this team has several flaws.
Anthony made some interesting comments to reporters after Sunday’s game, suggesting if the Knicks don’t want him, then it’s time to talk about his future.
Anthony was responding to an article by Charley Rosen of FanRag Sports which suggested the Knicks star has “outlived his usefulness in New York.” Rosen, as the New York Daily News’ Frank Isola points out, is a “close confidant” of Knicks president Phil Jackson.
Anthony has spent the last six-plus seasons in New York. He’s put up impressive individual stats with the Knicks, but playoff success has eluded them.
They have made the playoffs just three times with Anthony and advanced past the first round only once.
Trading Anthony likely would be difficult. It would be hard to get equal value in return for him, and his enormous salary — more than $26 million for two more seasons — isn’t easy to fit under the salary cap.
And, as noted, he has a no-trade clause in his contract, which allows him to control a lot of the process if a trade is ultimately what New York decides.
The Knicks made several offseason moves to contend this season. The additions of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, along with a new head coach in Jeff Hornacek, gave Knicks fans hope. So far, those moves haven’t worked out, and given where this team is at in terms of winning a championship, it might be time to discuss Anthony’s future sooner rather than later.
Thumbnail photo via Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports Images
