Carmelo Anthony was super cryptic following the New York Knicks’ Wednesday night loss to the Miami Heat. He referenced “seeing the writing on the wall,” being “at peace” with how the team is finishing and all that good stuff.
Here’s the skinny, per ESPN.com’s Ian Begley:
“I see the writing on the wall. I see what it is,” Anthony said late Wednesday night. “I see what they’re trying to do, and it’s just me accepting that. That’s what puts me at peace. Just knowing and understanding how things work. I’m at peace with that.”
“I don’t think me going out there, trying to score 30 and 40 every night and playing that way, is going to help them out at this point. I think it’s more about getting that experience and letting them go out there and play through that right now,” Anthony said after failing to score in double figures for just the third time all season. “It’s challenging, but I think it’s for the greater good for everybody on this team.”
This seems pretty innocuous at heart, but something else Melo said about not knowing his role really got people going on the Twitter machine:
Carmelo Anthony was a little cryptic tonight. "I don’t even know my role. I don’t know my role to be honest…I get in where I fit in." pic.twitter.com/YZFlWNIoX9
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) March 30, 2017
This kind of run counters to what Melo actually says, since he pretty clearly sees himself as the deferential mentor. (Though, if that’s the case, he should probably come off as such a contributor while playing on the court. His usage rate is down since the All-Star break, but he’s not clearly taking the kiddies under his wing.) The confusion really starts to sink in when you look at his future.
The Knicks are probably going to try trading Melo over the offseason, just as they did leading into February’s deadline. He can still veto any deal they bring to him, but this team is clearly rebuilding and committed to the triangle. They won’t be contending for a title anytime soon. They’re arguably in worse shape than when Phil Jackson inherited them; Kristaps Porzingis probably makes up the difference, but it’s close.
Will Melo expand the list of teams he’s willing to join just to be part of a better situation? Does he actually view himself as part of the Knicks’ future, in which case he’ll stick around? Does he maybe think he’ll be better off if Derrick Rose leaves in free agency, in which case he’ll still stick around? Is he merely inclined to stay put until 2018, when he has an early termination option?
Most seem to think Anthony is playing out his last days as a member of the Knicks, but they should know better. There’s always twists and turns in the Big Apple, and chances are Anthony’ s outlook with the team has another loop de loop or 12 left in its tank.
