Report: Carmelo Anthony dropped weight to better fit triangle offense

An Instagram photo showing an obviously-slimmed-down Carmelo Anthony went viral earlier this week, and while we still don't know how much weight, if any, Anthony lost, or how he went about shedding the pounds, we may now have an idea why he did it.

Citing an "Anthony confidant," the New York Post reported on Wednesday that Anthony's improved fitness is all about the All-Star forward becoming a better fit for the triangle offense, which the Knicks will be running under new head coach Derek Fisher (and team president Phil Jackson).

“He wants to be as athletic as he was when he was a rookie,’’ the confidant told The Post. “Plus he wants to be a facilitator in the triangle and speed will help that.’’

In addition, The Post cites a source who told Tobias Harris' camp (the Magic forward worked out with Anthony in June) that "Anthony was working out three times a day, doing basketball drills, agility drills, weights and yoga," and that "Anthony has followed LeBron James’ lead in a mostly no-carb diet."

Anthony has played the best basketball of his career over the last two years, averaging 28 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1 steal through the 2013-13 and 2013-14 seasons, while posting a Player Efficiency Rating of 24.6 and winning a scoring title in 2013.

The All-Star forward also turned 30 years old this off-season, however, and as noted in The Post, likely played heavier than his 240-pound listing in the Knicks 2013-14 media guide after coming into the league at 230 pounds as a rookie in 2003.

The triangle, which is more of a read-and-react offense, requires more passing, spacing and movement than Anthony's Knicks played with in Mike Woodson's stagnant, iso-heavy offense.

Whether Anthony can ultimately tweak his game to better match the triangle remains to be seen, but he does at least appear committed to getting his body ready for the system.