Knicks News and Rumors: If Carmelo Anthony Stays in New York, He May Help Knicks Attract These Top Free Agents
If Carmelo Anthony had a theme song these days, it'd likely be The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" as that's likely the question he's grappling with the most as his free agency looms.
On July 1, Melo, who is once again watching the NBA Finals from the sidelines, will opt out of his contract with the New York Knicks and become arguably the hottest free agent on the NBA market-well, unless LeBron James decides to opt out, but that's a bit of a longshot. Anthony, on the other hand, has plenty of reasons to give teams ample hope that the high-scoring superstar may lace up his sneakers for them, especially after the dismal season the Knicks finished with only a year removed from winning their first Atlantic Division title in nearly 20 years.
However, aside from the fact that New York is the only team that can offer Anthony the most money for his value, the seven-time NBA All-Star and former league scoring champion has reasons to stay with the Knicks, as well. One of those reasons is new team president Phil Jackson, who coached multiple dynasties with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. Jackson is rolling up his sleeves and getting to work rebuilding an aging, talent-short Knicks squad into what fans and team officials hope will be the first championship team the Big Apple has fielded since 1973. However, Anthony staying would certainly make the rebuilding process a lot easier, something that Jackson has readily admitted.
"I think it really helps. I haven't been a major recruiter as a basketball coach," he told ESPN recently of having Anthony around to attract free agents to New York. "I've had players who could recruit by their talent; that's my great fortune. We didn't have to send out Michael Jordan to go out and recruit people. People wanted to play with him. Or Scottie Pippen. We didn't have to do that with Shaq [O'Neal] and Kobe [Bryant] in those situations, and they're willing to do it. As a result, we ended up with [Karl] Malone and Gary Payton on a basketball team at one time."
And there are a lot of stars in the NBA that would want to play alongside Anthony. He's nearly impossible to guard one-on-one, virtually unstoppable when he gets in a groove on offense and is a legitimate scoring presence that defenses have to account for, which would make the right second star's presence necessary in order for the Knicks to crack the championship code.
But who would Anthony be able to attract? Or better yet, which big stars could he lure to The Big Apple that would make the best fit for the Knicks as they attempt to raise a championship banner to the rafters of Madison Square Garden once again? Latin Post takes a look at some potential candidates:
Kevin Love
Really, what's not to love about Love? He's got size, a shooter's touch, he rebounds and he's a dangerous scoring threat when on the court. Like Anthony, Love doesn't exactly draw rave reviews on defense, but there is still time to improve. And let's face it; teams aren't interested in an all-NBA defender when it comes to Love as much they are a force on offense. Combined with Anthony, these two could form a 1-2 punch in the frontcourt and on offense that would be among the NBA's best.
Rajon Rondo
With four NBA All-Star appearances, two league assists crowns, a steals title and NBA championship ring on his resume, it's hard to turn down Rondo's credentials. Savvy, brash and fearless, Rondo has evolved into one of the best point guards in the game. Anthony's Knicks and Rondo's Boston Celtics have been bitter rivals in the playoffs for years, but a chance to throw lobs to Melo on a fast break for the foreseeable future may be too tempting for Rondo to pass up when his contract expires in 2015.
Klay Thompson
The soon-to-be fourth-year shooting guard has tremendous upside. In his third season, he put up 18.4 points on 44.4 percent shooting with 2.2 assists. Between him and All-Star Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors have one of the game's most lethal young backcourts around. When he comes off the books in 2015, should he go to the Knicks, Thompson would be an instant upgrade in the backcourt, and while not at a superstar level of Dwyane Wade or any of his other shooting guard peers, he would make a great scoring compliment in the backcourt while Anthony continues shoring up the Knicks' frontline with his scoring, the two being able to work somewhat independently of each other.
LaMarcus Aldridge
One of the league's preeminent power forwards, Aldridge has helped turn the Blazers from basement dwellers in to future NBA title contenders. A quick big man with a sweet jump shot and slick post moves, this All-Star forward would make an immediate impact on the Knicks front line if he decides to leave Portland when his contract expires in 2015. Able to beat opponents on the inside and the outside, he and Anthony would make for one of the most dominating front court offensive duos in the NBA.