If Phil Jackson is really looking for Carmelo Anthony to waive his no-trade clause, all he needs to do is what he’s planned on doing all along: keep Kurt Rambis as the New York Knicks’ head coach.
Seriously?
Seriously.
Appearing on CBS Sports Radio’s Brown and Scoop” podcast, former writer/still-well-connected Peter Vecsey, painted a pretty clear picture of what would happen if Jackson follows through on his intent to retain Rambis, per CBS New York:
“That’s the belief,” Vecsey said. “The truth is Melo likes Rambis. I know that for a fact. He thinks he’s a good guy, but he doesn’t think he’s the coach they need to go further than they are right now. He’s not a good coach.
“He couldn’t coach a lick (in Minnesota). The mistakes he made, and the players used to mock him, the young players. … If they hire Kurt Rambis, I’m sure Melo is going to demand to be traded.”
This makes sense. A lot of sense.
It’s not necessarily that Rambis isn’t a coach for which top-flight free agents will want to play. He isn’t, but that’s besides the point. Melo has wanted a say in the Knicks’ coaching search, in their future plans, from the beginning, and he has been very clear about that, especially recently.
If the Knicks hire Rambis without consulting Carmelo Anthony, or at least being seriously linked to other high-profile prospects, such as David Blatt or Frank Vogel, more so than they already are, then it would seem they’re sending him a message—that message being they think it’s time for both parties to move on.
And at that point, if the Knicks aren’t appreciating Anthony’s loyalty and newly improved, team-friendly play style, Melo would be smart to oblige—on his own terms, of course.
