Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 2 mins
Carmelo: Phil Jackson's "knowledge and wisdom is something I could sit down and listen to all day long."
Al Iannazzone @Al_Iannazzone 1 min
Melo on his future: "I want to come back. I want to come back. But I also want to win."
Ill post every quote i see.
Melo says he doesn't know if he can endure 4 another yr. Says other situations may look better, but grass isn't always greener on other side
Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 2 mins
Carmelo said he began rehabbing his injured shooting shoulder yesterday
l Iannazzone @Al_Iannazzone 2 mins
Melo says he can't "afford another losing season."
Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 2 mins
Melo, on his value as he turns 30: "For me, I feel like Im just starting to play my best basketball." Reminds us that he's only 29 years old
Peter Botte @PeterBotte 5 mins
Carmelo: "I feel like we gave away this year."
Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 8 secs
Carmelo suggests that he's considered waiting until next year to opt out. But thinks its better to be a free agent now instead of waitingExpand Collapse Reply Retweet
Carmelo: "I'm not at the point in my career where I want to rebuild." #Knicks
Melo said not being in the playoffs is "embarrassing" to him.
New York Knicks @nyknicks 1 min
.@carmeloanthony: "I'm going to keep searching for the answers (to what went wrong this season)."
Carmelo says this has been by far the most difficult season in his 11-year career. #Knicks
Carmelo says if it came down to the Knicks asking him whether they should keep Woodson, he'd back Woodson as a coach.
Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 1 min
Carmelo called Woodson "almost a father figure." Said he's had some of his best playing yrs under him.
Al Iannazzone @Al_Iannazzone 56 secs
if the Knicks asked Melo if he wants Woodson to return, he said, "I'd back him."
Carmelo, half-jokingly asked why he was wearing a red hat: "Red is my favorite color."
I also won't hate him if he leaves for a better situation.
Melo said he's financially stable - "At this point in my career its about winning. Nothing else even matters."
Agreed TTH i used watch a lot of Nuggets games when the Knicks sucked...they were like my second team that i rooted for in the playoffs and i have always liked his game but watching him every game he plays so hard...even if he is having a bad shooting night he is still playing hard...
does he have stuff he needs to get better at? absolutely but he played his ass off this year..nothing but respect for Carmelo Anthony...
Carmelo's red hat also said "NY" right across the front of it, for what it's worth.
People think because the Knicks have cap space that it will be easy to replace Melo...well guess what it wont be...look at 2010 the Knicks would have gotten NO ONE if they didnt overpay Stoudemire..
I understand why someone might think we are better off just starting from scratch. I, however, am not convinced that is our best case scenario. I think Melo is immensely talented and capable of being a major piece on a championship team. Much like Paul Pierce went from a guy that couldn't get it done to a champion. He needs the right players around him, specifically a PG that gets others involved and handles the ball late in games. That being said, I understand that he has flaws, specifically with being an iso player, he has a low bball IQ and he puts all of his energy into offense and only 75% to defense.
I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world if Melo just walked because we'd get a great draft pick and still have tons of cap room the next offseason, but I have it as the 3rd best case scenario of this playing out. Here's what I see:
1. Best case scenario is Melo opts in, signs for less after next season, and we are able to sign Rondo and still have plenty of cap for either Love or a few good players. The problem with this plan is that there is a good chance we can't sign Rondo and Love. It puts us on the fastest path to a championship team, but with a risk. Even if we don't get those two guys, we will still have lots of money to sign guys and the following year is loaded with talent.
2. Second best option, which is Melo's best option if he wants to leave....sign and trade Melo to Houston or Chicago. Boozer(cap filler), Mirotic(supposedly a young stud overseas, won't make a lot of money) and 2 firsts seams like a fair deal for Chicago. Something like Parsons, Asik and picks would work for Houston. Asik is an expiring and Parsons is a great young player who's low cost for another season. This would be good for the long term and possibly the short term, but the risk is that we are too good to get a top pick in next years draft and not good enough to win. We'd still have tons of cap space, a few mid to late firsts and a few good, young players.
3. The 3rd option is Melo walking. This one is the most unlikely because the only reason Melo would leave, would be to join a winning team and contend. Who is that team that has the cap available to sign Melo outright? Not any good teams. Chicago is the closest and they would have to do a lot of finagling to make it possible. It wouldn't be easy and it would have implications on bringing Mirotic from overseas. Any other team with cap space is a terrible team. The risk with this is that we either miss on the pick or don't get a great draft pick. There's no guarantee that we'd have a top pick with all those guys coming back. Then we lack good youth, we won't have the following years draft pick(goes to Denver) and we won't have anyone here to recruit other great players. Who's going to want to come to the Knicks via FA without Melo here? There is certainly upside with this scenario, but it's long, long term.
But why would Lebron or Durant come here if Melo is not here? amkes zero sense for them to do that..
"It's motivating to me, it's inspiring to me" @carmeloanthony on @Amareisreal's resurgence this season #Knicks
As for Durant, you're right, it seems like a pipe dream. I'm just not sure if guys like Love and Rondo are good enough to justify blowing all of the cap space in 2015, with or without Melo.
2) He likes playing on the largest stage in the NBA.
3) I think he likes being the teams star player, and I think he would prefer for another start player (2015) to come to "his" team rather than he go to another's.
4) Smaller factor, but I believe he feels a little indebted to the Knicks for how much they gave up to get him and would prefer not to walk away from them at first opportunity.
5) I really think he wants to finish the job that he set out to do when first coming to NY.
6) I think he recognizes just how much he would be idolized in NY if he were to bring a championship to NY after all these years. He wouldn't be able to come close to that anywhere else in the league.
7) Phil Jackson now legitimizes all those reasons for staying put, without Jackson he wouldn't have had something to hang his hope on.
Carmelo Anthony sounded absolutely tormented about not being in the playoffs. Said he's been losing sleep.
Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 3 mins
Amare suggests that Woodson wasnt involved in exit interviews today -- just spoke w Phil Jackson and GM Steve Mills.
Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 3 mins
Woodson declined comment yesterday on whether he'd be involved in exit meetings. Now sounds as if he wasn't involved today.
NBA New York Knicks @nyknicks 3 mins
.@Amareisreal says @PhilJackson11 told him he was very pleased with his performance this year
NBA New York Knicks @nyknicks 1 min
.@Amareisreal: "I'm feeling stronger now than I did the entire year. I wanted 16 more games."
As for Durant, you're right, it seems like a pipe dream. I'm just not sure if guys like Love and Rondo are good enough to justify blowing all of the cap space in 2015, with or without Melo.
Whether Lebron wanted to be in New York or not he was never coming here in 2010....he wanted to win championships and the Knciks were no where near a championship contender...
If Melo is still here they have a lot better chance of getting Bron...
i will even put it this way...if Melo is in New York in 2010 Lebron signs with Knicks...
I think Melo wants the money, but I'm also not 100% convinced that Phil Jackson really wants to build around Melo. In my options of best case scenario's above, Melo getting traded is a close 2nd to Melo signing for less. If Melo gets the max, this offseason, I don't think that's the best case scenario for the knicks. I'd say...
1. Melo either opts in and then signs for less next year.
2. Melo opts out and signs for less.
3. Sign and trade to Chicago.
4. Sign and trade to Houston.
5. Melo opts out and then signs a full max.
6. Melo signs with the Lakers or another team under the cap.
All of those options could benefit the Knicks in some way, but some better than others. #5 and #6 are the worst case scenarios and even those scenarios aren't the worst thing in the world.
Amare says he realizes that Woodson is under fire, but that he's learned more defensively under Woodson than any coach he's had.
Al Iannazzone @Al_Iannazzone 8 mins
Amar'e said he hasn't seen Mike Woodson today. Phil Jackson and Steve Mills did the exit interviews.
NBA New York Knicks @nyknicks 4 mins
.@Amareisreal says the opportunity to play with @tysonchandler and himself would be "an intruiging factor" for @carmeloanthony this summer.
Ian Begley @IanBegley 4 mins
Amar'e Stoudemire said he spoke with Steve Mills & Phil Jackson in exit interviews today. He said he didn't see Mike Woodson at the facility
Beat me to it. That quote is laughable. Who cares about Noah and Rose, or Harden and Howard? I got Chandler and Stat!
.@carmeloanthony did say he wants to come back be also said he wants to win. He added that he'll take time to evaluate FA over summer.
Basically Carmelo Anthony said he wants to come back, but he doesn't know if he's coming back.
"We had a good meeting. Just went over our summer plans."
Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 2 mins
Chandler says he wont talk with Carmelo this summer abt his FA decision. Says that's for Carmelo and his family to do.
Chris Herring @HerringWSJ 53 secs
Chandler: "I feel like teams with way less talent made the playoffs" over us
Ian Begley @IanBegley 1 min
Carmelo on returning to #Knicks: "If we can put ourselves in position to at least compete at a high level ... then Im willing to stay."
Chandler says he'd be in favor of a lot of things changing schematically, on offense and especially on defense.
NBA New York Knicks @nyknicks 59 secs
.@tysonchandler: "One team wins a championship, the rest go home. My goal is to win another championship."
Melo has been consistent all year about his situation. Always said preference is to stay. However, due diligence in FA is important.
Tyson Chandler said the Knicks need a "winning culture." He wasn't as effusive in his support for Mike Woodson as Melo was.
Ian Begley @IanBegley 1m
Carmelo seemed to be getting emotional when offering his support for Mike Woodson & talking about the disappointment of this season. #Knicks
Nope; it was just Melo, Chandler & Stoudemire. MT @cheifgonzo: @HerringWSJ Are Phil or Woody going to be making statements today?
We lost a lot of vets, Stoudemire said. And those vets were definitely key leaders for us. And it was tough for me to be the leader that I know I am because I was still on limited minutes and I wasnt playing much so it was tough for me to lead by example.
Once I got into the starting lineup, then my leadership qualities [resurfaced], he added. So, next year, we should be focused a little bit more and itll be a much better year.
STAT: We didn't buy into Woodson's system - ( New Window )
I really like Tyson but its hard for me to ignore some of these comments. He was god awful this year and I don't care if you don't like the coaches defense, you still play as best you can. His FT shooting was pathetic compared to usual. is that Woodson's fault too? I haven't heard him take any personal responsibility and my respect for him is dwindling.
1. Trades chandler for some young talent and a draft pic
2. Signs and trades melo to Houston or Chicago for draft picks and at least one starter
3. Felton does some jail time and contract gets voided
4. Signs Kerr to coach
5. Keeps Shump. Tim. JR. Tyler Aldrich Murry. Teaches them triangle
6. Question mark about Stat and Bargnani.
7. Gets into 2015 lottery
8. Signs one max FA in 2015
1. Trades chandler for some young talent and a draft pic
2. Signs and trades melo to Houston or Chicago for draft picks and at least one starter
3. Felton does some jail time and contract gets voided
4. Signs Kerr to coach
5. Keeps Shump. Tim. JR. Tyler Aldrich Murry. Teaches them triangle
6. Question mark about Stat and Bargnani.
7. Gets into 2015 lottery
8. Signs one max FA in 2015
One knock on this plan and this is in no way a knock on Carmelo; under this scenario Knicks probably make the playoffs next year & no Lottery pick. Again no knock on Carmelo but absolutely a knock on Woodson; competent coaching and Ray out as the starting PG / young talent for Chandler and Melo with how awful this conference is, we make the playoffs.