NBA Free Agents 2015 Rumors: Carmelo Anthony to Try Persuading Fellow All-Stars to Sign with New York Knicks
Carmelo Anthony wants New York Knicks to be a perennial contender moving forward, and the superstar is planning to do his part in the upcoming 2015 NBA All-Star weekend.
Anthony, who signed a five-year deal worth $124 million in the offseason, hinted that he was recruited by several players before during previous All-Star weekends.
In the 2014 NBA All-Star weekend in New Orleans, reports indicated that Joakim Noah tried to persuade Anthony to sign with the Chicago Bulls, who made a strong pitch in the summer before the superstar forward decided to stay in New York.
Anthony added that several players also approached him when he was still playing for the Denver Nuggets. And now that the All-Star Game will be staged in New York, Anthony said that it's his turn to sell his team to his fellow stars.
"That was kind of the talk of All-Star Weekend last year," Anthony said via ESPN, referring to talks about his free agency in New Orleans last year. "I've had that experience maybe twice now, last year and then the one in LA a couple of years back right before I got to New York. Now it's my turn. Now it's my turn to extend the favor."
The 30-year-old superstar did not mention names because it would lead to a violation of the league's tampering rules, but the NY Post reported that Anthony will likely talk to Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol.
Gasol, who is averaging 18.6 points to go along with 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game this season, is reportedly on the Knicks' radar as team president Phil Jackson is allegedly convinced that the 30-year-old will be a perfect fit to the triangle offense being run in New York.
Aside from Gasol, upcoming potential free agents Paul Millsap of the Atlanta Hawks and LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers were also mentioned as possible targets along with Greg Monroe of the Detroit Pistons and Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns.
Anthony, whose team currently holds the worst record in the league at 10-40, said that there's no need to persuade players on how big basketball is in New York because the 12-year veteran superstar believes the atmosphere in the upcoming All-Star weekend will be enough to impress his fellow All-Stars.
"Everybody will be in their own kind of zone on All-Star Weekend," Anthony said via NY Post. "The real effect that they will feel will be during the game here at the Garden, kind of seeing what the Garden has to offer, not just for New York Knicks but for everything. And that is a big moment -- that Sunday in the All-Star Game."
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