Carmelo Anthony privately pined for a secondary scorer in the offseason. And so far, after the first practice of training camp, Anthony is talking like he has got one in the Knicks’ key offseason acquisition, Andrea Bargnani.
Anthony even said he would be willing to slide over from power forward to small forward to make room in the starting lineup for the 6-foot-11 Italian.
Anthony also tried taking the pressure off Bargnani, who became the scapegoat in Toronto after failing to become an All-Star after being No. 1 overall pick in 2006.
“There ain’t no pressure on him,” Anthony said of Bargnani handling the move to New York. “You come in and do what you got to do and play ball. All the pressure’s on me. It should be easy for him. It should be an easy transition for him, adjusting. Just do it the right way, it should be easy for him.’’
Bargnani played just 66 of a possible 152 regular-season games the past two seasons for the Raptors, because of various injuries, prompting the June 29 trade.
Bargnani said no matter what Anthony says, there always is pressure as a Knick.
“New York is a different situation than Toronto,’’ Bargnani said. “The pressure is on him, of course, but it’s on the team because there’s a lot of expectation on the team.’’
During yesterday’s halfcourt sets, Bargnani wore the starting blue jersey with Anthony, Tyson Chandler up front, and Metta World Peace wore white.
Coach Mike Woodson said his starting lineup hasn’t been determined, but a frontcourt of Chandler-Bargnani-Anthony is a distinct possibility. The Knicks coach hinted at Bargnani’s familiarity with that role.
“We’ll use camp to evaluate to see where we are,’’ Woodson said. “He’s been a starter pretty much all his career, but time will tell. I’m going to have some options this year.’’
Starting Bargnani means Anthony would have to return to small forward. Having World Peace start would allow Anthony to stay at the 4. But it should be noted Toronto insiders say Bargnani always performed well against Indiana’s David West and Miami’s Chris Bosh — likely the East’s two most formidable teams.
Anthony said he is comfortable at either position.
“Playing the 3, 4, it’s all the same. I’m cool with it,” he said. “It’s up to Coach Woodson. It’s early right now to pick a starting lineup. By the end of the week, we’ll start figuring things out.
“I’m looking forward to getting up and down the court with Bargnani. I know his capabilities. For me, it helps me a lot now to have another stretch 4 who can stretch the floor, shoot and create of the dribble. It’s another weapon we have.’’
The Knicks were desperate to trade for Bargnani and worked on the deal all of June, according to a source. They already were plotting a strict minutes restriction on Amar’e Stoudemire because of his knees. Woodson said Tuesday he expects Stoudemire to play fewer than 25 minutes a game when ready.
Bargnani, who had pneumonia in early August that forced his withdrawal from Team Italy’s training camp before the European Championships, said he felt good after his first Knicks practice and doesn’t think it will take long to get into game shape.
“My lungs are OK,’’ Bargnani said. “It’s a matter of getting in shape. I had to stay one month still. It won’t take long. I feel pretty good about it.’’
Woodson raved in July about the prospect of Bargnani entering camp off the European event, and he hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for the trade. Woodson’s biggest challenge is teaching him the team’s defensive rotations.
“I don’t think you can pass up on a piece like Bargnani,’’ Woodson said. “He’s one of those gifted players I think I can reach. I’ve watched him from afar for many years. I just think he’s a talented, young player who can do a number of things. I just got to get him acclimated to what we’re doing and feeling good about himself again because he can really help this ballclub.’’
The Knicks have two trips to Toronto in the preseason, including Oct. 11. Bargnani was booed heavily last season, leading to the Raptors shipping him out for Steve Novak and draft picks.
“It will be weird for me,’’ Bargnani said. “I’d been there seven years — a lot of time. It will be weird feeling coming into the gym with another jersey.’’