It’s safe to say Carmelo Anthony will air whatever grievances he has with New York Knicks president Phil Jackson during their exit interview at the end of the season.
Because that’s exactly what he said he’s going to do, per USA Today‘s Steve Popper:
“Pretty sure the chips will be on the table,” Anthony said. “The chips will be on the table in that meeting. Honestly, I don’t know what to expect but I got a good feeling. Yeah, the chips will be on the table.”
Melo also said he still sees the writing on the wall, but he won’t tell us what the writing means. He basically came out in support of Scottie Pippen ripping the Zen Master as well.
This is totally fine.
It’s not, obviously, but at least the season is almost over.
If there was ever a time for Jackson to salvage any perception, it’s in that meeting. He needs to let Anthony know the plan is to trade him, that the preference is to begin rebuilding with younger players. Melo, in all likelihood, will be receptive to the honesty—to the answers to questions he’s been asking for what feels like the better part of this season.
But maybe the Knicks and Anthony have reached the point of no return, emotionally. Perhaps he won’t be receptive to whatever Jackson says. Maybe he just wants answers, period, whatever they are.
One question, for sure, will still linger beyond that meeting: Has Anthony played his last season with the Knicks? The optics suggest yes, but he owns a no-trade clause, and the Knicks shouldn’t just move him for the sake of moving him. He has an early termination option after next season; if they can’t glean a first-round pick of any kind for his services, they’re probably better off waiting for his contract to expire and plowing forward with the cap space.
