New York Knicks fans will want to listen up. And those who value Carmelo Anthony may want to cry.
Anthony, the Knicks’ free-agent-to-be, still takes advice from his former head coach at Syracuse, Jim Boeheim.
From the New York Daily News‘ Peter Botte:
He’s a guy I kind of bounce a lot of stuff off of, just get his opinion,” Anthony said. “I think he’s a great guy to have to pick his brain and get some insight on things. He’s a guy, he’s going to tell you straight like it is. If you ain’t doing something he’s going to tell you. If I’m doing something, he’ll tell you. If he sees something that’s wrong, he’s going to tell me.
“We have those conversations. For me that’s probably one of the best people that I can talk to, because he’s going to give it to me straight up, right or wrong.”
To be sure, that’s not a good thing. Not right now. Not if Knicks fans want Anthony to stay in New York.
While on Jim Rome on Showtime this week, Boeheim pretty much said Anthony shouldn’t re-sign with the Knicks this summer. Here’s the transcription from the above video, brought to us courtesy of CBS Sports’ Matt Moore:
“What I’d tell him is what I would tell any NBA great player,” Boeheim said. “If you’re a great player in the NBA, for you to be recognized as a great player you have to win a championship. It’s as simple as that. And I think you have to put yourself in the best position possible to win a championship. LeBron James did it. … And it’s changed the image of LeBron James forever.
“I think you have to be in a place that you have a chance to win a championship. I think Carmelo loves New York, but I would tell him, ‘Let’s try to get some place where you can win this thing.’ “
Crap. Double crap. Triple crap. Triple-double crap.
The Knicks aren’t looking like a team Anthony can win with right now. Part of that’s on him, for not waiting until free agency in 2011 so New York wouldn’t fleece itself of assets and therefore handcuff itself while attempting to rebuild around ‘Melo. And if you don’t honestly believe ‘Melo should have waited, consider this: If he leaves this summer, he’ll be taking a pay cut anyway. Had he taken a pay cut then, he would be with the team he wants, presumably winning more.
Most of this debacle, however, is on the Knicks. Yes, most. They’ve treated first-round draft picks like pennies or business cards, or a copy of owner James Dolan’s band’s latest album—everyone who wants one gets one…for virtually nothing. And knowing the blame Anthony can shoulder is limited, it makes him a flight risk.
If he doesn’t feel he could win in New York, he could leave. Personally, I don’t think he will. Financial benefits, coupled with a lack of other options, will make it so he stays. That’s just me. I could be wrong. Anthony could be taking Boeheim’s word as a mandate. In that scenario, Anthony is good as gone.
Boeheim obviously doesn’t have total control over Anthony’s decisions, but keep in mind ‘Melo actually won a championship with him. He could take his opinion super seriously.
And if he does, that means Anthony will have at least one person telling him to get the hell out of dodge this summer, when he can leave the Knicks in shambles, escaping a wreckage that’s currently going up in flames with him.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
