Carmelo Anthony and New York Knicks president Phil Jackson are on the same page.
Still.
For now.
The firing of head coach Derek Fisher gave way to the prospect of Anthony, now 31, growing frustrated with the Knicks and entertaining the idea that he should wave his no-trade clause. But he isn’t going to do that, not even with New York losing 10 of its last 11, including Kurt Rambis’ head-coaching debut against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, and playing itself miles outside the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture.
And why not?
Because Melo still trusts the Knicks’ process. He still trusts Phil.
From ESPN.com’s Ian Begley:
Carmelo Anthony says he has no plans to seek a trade and remains committed to Knicks president Phil Jackson in the wake of Derek Fisher’s dismissal as head coach.
“This is something I didn’t see coming, [that] nobody saw coming,” Anthony said. “So you have to continue to put your trust into Phil. At this point, what could you do? Can’t shy away from that. Can’t go against it. So for me, it’s continue. I have to trust in it. I decided to stay here. I decided to make that decision to trust in the Knicks and trust in Phil. I have to continue doing that.”
It’s fair to say Anthony doesn’t seem overly excited about the coaching change. But it’s nevertheless convenient, if necessary, for the Knicks to hear that their star player isn’t, at least publicly, lampooning them for a process run temporarily field.
And yet you have to wonder if Anthony is reaching his breaking point. Yes, he decided to stay in New York. And no, a midseason change of scenery likely won’t result in a title. Any team in position to and desperate enough to absorb his salary won’t be winning a title this year.
But this is something to think about as we approach the offseason, and as it becomes more and more obvious that the Knicks won’t play for championships during Anthony’s prime. Optimistically speaking, he has two years of superstar-level basketball left in him, and the Knicks, at best, may be able to enter the peripherals of the title discussion in that latter year—which, to be sure, doesn’t say much.
