Carmelo Anthony staged a dinner meeting with his entourage Friday night to discuss his free-agent future, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Anthony, his Creative Artists Agency agent Leon Rose, and CAA adviser William Wesley were in the group of six at a well-known haunt on 28th Street called Pergola in a strategy session discussing their options. The source said the group sat in a private back room.
Anthony has kept an extremely low profile since the regular season ended in mid-April, unlike past offseasons.
On April 29, Anthony met secretly for two hours at a Tribeca steakhouse with Knicks president Phil Jackson, who told him at the time that Steve Kerr was going to be the new Knicks coach.
Things have changed significantly since Anthony and Jackson met. Kerr passed on the Knicks after initially being lowballed on a three-year, $13.2 million offer. Kerr’s reluctance to sign allowed the Warriors to rejoin the fray after Kerr initially declined to interview with them.
Jackson is now back to square one and Anthony could have been getting updates on the Knicks coaching search, which has been at a standstill. Jackson prefers Brian Shaw over Derek Fisher, but it doesn’t appear the Nuggets would allow Shaw, who just completed his first season as their coach, to interview with the Knicks.
Jackson is waiting on Fisher’s season to end with the Oklahoma City Thunder. That could occur later this week.
That Jackson was unable to recruit his buddy Kerr had to be an alarming development for Anthony, considering Jackson’s primary presence is to be a recruiter for the 2015 free-agent class.
Jackson is not familiar with the CAA agency and has talked about ending the perception that the superagency has undue influence on the Knicks. However, Knicks general manager Steve Mills and assistant GM Allan Houston are close with Wesley.
Jackson, in no uncertain terms, said soon after the season he will need Anthony to take a pay cut — less than the maximum salary — to re-sign. That would give the Knicks greater flexibility in adding to the roster in 2015.
It was Anthony’s original suggestion he would take less than the maximum, but Jackson’s comments raised eyebrows. However, it is believed Anthony was not offended.
“I like to appeal to his better nature of winning,’’ Jackson told reporters in late April. “There’s some obvious examples that everyone can point to.’’
Jackson referred to the Miami trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan. “A precedent has been set,’’ Jackson said.
Anthony’s potential decision to re-sign with the Knicks may be by default. Two of his prime candidates, Houston and Chicago, still have to get far enough under the salary cap to make it worth it for Anthony. The Bulls may have to rid themselves of Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson on a squad that was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. Plus, Anthony would be banking on the uncertain future of the oft-injured Derrick Rose.
The Rockets were also knocked out in the first round and need to get rid of Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik to get under the salary cap. Meanwhile, the Lakers have cap space, but sources maintain they aren’t too interested in Anthony as a fit with Kobe Bryant. Nor is Lakers president Jeanie Buss enthralled with stealing Anthony from Jackson, her fiancé.
Dallas is also said to be interested in Anthony but also has to get under the salary cap. The Knicks still remain strong favorites, even if Jackson isn’t off to a sizzling start.