So much for Carmelo Anthony not being committed, or particularly keen on, the New York Knicks’ future.
Perhaps he’s still not feeling great and struggling to sustain an optimistic slant in the face of an extensive rebuild that became all too real as soon as the Knicks drafted long-term project Kristaps Porzingis. But, at the very least, Melo is planning on being in New York through next season, into next summer—long enough for him to recruit Kevin Durant.
And maybe Kobe Bryant.
Stephen A. Smith dropped a speculation nuke on ESPN ‘s First Take last week that’s only now coming to the surface (h/t CBS Sports):
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said that, not only is New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony recruiting the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar, but league execs joke that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant could conceivably wind up playing alongside both of them.
“One of the things that I’ve been hearing,” Smith said, “and I don’t believe it’s going to happen at all: I know for a fact that Carmelo Anthony has been and will continue to recruit Kevin Durant until the cows come home. I’m also hearing that Kevin Durant is giving the New York Knicks consideration. And there are people in NBA circles who have joked around about the possibility [that] Kobe Bryant, if not wanted by the Lakers, could end up playing in New York for a year with Melo and Kevin Durant.
“I can’t see it, to be quite honest with you,” Smith continued. “But who knows? Anything’s possible because Phil [Jackson] is in New York for Kobe and then there’s Durant and Melo, who would be there for anybody if that were to happen.”
Well, sure.
Rumors like this will be staples throughout the season, especially when the Oklahoma City Thunder are slumping, and especially when KD says something even remotely controversial, and especially when people are bored.
Of course Melo is recruiting KD. Everyone in the league playing for a team that might be able to carve out the cap space necessary to land him should be recruiting KD. Whether or not they get him is a different story.
Which is where KD actually considering the Knicks comes in. He probably won’t rule any team out right now. It’s too early; he may not even be thinking about it. Plus, New York is always linked to the biggest stars, if only because it’s foolish for players not to try and use their market mystique as leverage in other negotiations—not money in KD’s case, since his salary will be scaled, but in urgency, in forcing them to take action with other moves that seal your arrival.
A lot of people will poke fun at the Melo-KD. Both are ball-dominators, and Melo will be 32 when he finally gets the chance to play with KD. But Melo has proved in the past that he’s a lethal spot-up shooter. Lining up a alongside someone like KD would allow him to age more gracefully, propping his title window up a little while longer.
Forget the Kobe rumor. It ain’t happening. And if it does, KD wouldn’t be dense enough to be part of that dumpster fire.
All of this, though, even if it sounds far-fetched, increases the importance of the Knicks performing well next season—Melo included. If they can exceed expectations, perhaps make the playoffs, or maybe even add players other who other players want to play with, they can legitimately be part of conversations like this one.
On that level, this isn’t even just about Durant, about this one uber-specific, totally unlikely pipe dream.
It’s about the Knicks becoming a destination of choice again.
