Melo: Knicks 'gotta do something' in free agency
Carmelo Anthony offered some candid words late Sunday night regarding his outlook on the New York Knicks' future and his potential future with them.
"It's in their court," Anthony said, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. "The ball is in their court. They have an opportunity, we have an opportunity to do something this offseason. We gotta do something. It's there."
That "something" means a roster upgrade via free agency. Anthony and the Knickerbockers are most likely headed for their third consecutive playoff-free spring.
The franchise player added that he had a positive conversation with team president Phil Jackson regarding the direction the team was headed.
"I got some answers that I was looking for, and I'll leave it at that," Anthony said. "I thought it was good timing for us to sit down and talk ... I won't go into the details ... but it was just good for me to get it out there, talk about it, get his response, get his feedback and that was that."
Jackson held court with media Friday in Los Angeles, and told reporters that any decision the Knicks would make to part ways with Anthony rest with Anthony.
"That's entirely up to Carmelo," Jackson said, referring to the no-trade clause built in to his contract, which has three years left on it. "That's in his lap."
For the moment, Anthony - who turns 32 in May - appears all in with New York, the city he was born in, and franchise he demanded a trade to as a member of the Denver Nuggets in 2011. He said he was happy to hear Jackson still views him as a cornerstone of the team.
"That was more coming from his side, (Jackson) expressing that. So it felt good to kind of hear that," Anthony said.
The Knicks will have about $20 million in cap space this summer, and Anthony himself cited free agent Rajon Rondo as a player the team should go after. However, Jackson threw cold water on the idea of chasing traditional point guards Friday, circling back to his beloved triangle offense.
The Knicks have no first-round draft pick this June, and the team will need to make a decision on a head coach during the summer. Interim bench boss Kurt Rambis is 5-9 since taking over from the fired Derek Fisher, with Anthony logging over 40 minutes five times. New York is 13-22 since Jan. 1.