There’s a new sheriff in town, and Carmelo Anthony is no longer going to be treated with kid gloves.
Jackson put the pressure on Anthony on Wednesday to abide by his word and take a pay cut to stick with the Knicks, saying “a precedent has been set’’ around the NBA. Jackson also said the franchise would survive if Anthony flees.
Anthony has said he’d take “a pay cut’’ if it meant giving the Knicks more salary-cap flexibility.
The Knicks are trying to make a big score in free agency in 2015, when they should have cap space to sign a max player. But the Knicks would like to add another mid-level talent or two, pending Anthony’s reduced salary for the 2015-16 season. Jackson pointed to the “precedent” of stars such as Tim Duncan and LeBron James taking less money.
The Post has learned one potential idea the Knicks are kicking around is to backload Anthony’s contract as much as they can. That would require giving Anthony a maximum 7.5 percent pay reduction for Year Two — the 2015-16 season — when it would help them most.
Anthony can make as much as $22.4 million his first year. But if he starts at just $19 million for 2014-15, he can then take his 7.5 percent reduction the next season after which he’d be able to get full-blown raises.
“I like to appeal to his better nature of winning,’’ Jackson said in a Wednesday press gathering at the team’s Greenburgh practice facility. “I think that’s what we want to do.
“There’s some obvious examples that everyone can point to. Tim Duncan making the salary he’s making. He agreed to take a salary cut so other players can play with him so they can be this good. That’s the beginning of team play. The group down in Miami agreed to take less money to play together.’’
“A precedent has been set. Because the way things are structured now financially for teams, it’s really hard to have two top stars or max players and be on a team with enough talent. You got to have people making sacrifices financially. We hope Carmelo is true to his word, and we understand what it’s going to take and present it to him at that time.’’
Asked whether it would be a disaster if Anthony didn’t re-sign or would it give Jackson simply more cap room to play with, Jackson said, “I’m all about moving forward. Deal with what is and move forward. If it’s in the cards, man, we’re fortunate. If it’s not in the cards, man are we fortunate. We’re going forward anyway.’’
Jackson certainly didn’t take a pay cut when he accepted his five-year, $60 million deal to become president, but that doesn’t count against the cap.
The free-agent class of 2015 is well-stocked, with Kevin Love, possibly LeBron James, LaMarcus Aldridge, Goran Dragic, Rajon Rondo and Tony Parker among the elite members.
Anthony could make a maximum of $129 million over five years, but would have to take $34 million less if he accepts the maximum four-year deal from another team.
The Bulls are expected to fervently chase Anthony, even more so if they are bounced out in the first round. They trail the Wizards, 2-0. But the Bulls still have to make moves to get under the salary cap. Anthony also could have second thoughts about joining a franchise whose star, Derrick Rose, is an injury risk and perhaps not as close to a title as everyone thought.
Plus, the Bulls would have to amnesty Carlos Boozer and trade Mike Dunleavy to get under the cap. The new cap, however, has projections of being $5 million more than previously thought, so they may be able to keep Sixth Man of the Year candidate Taj Gibson. The Lakers will have cap space to sign Anthony, but don’t appear overly interested. Houston also has to make moves to get under the cap.
Anthony said last week after his exit interview he “could listen to Phil talk all day.’’ But clearly Jackson’s message and tone regarding Anthony was more stern than those in charge in the past.
Regarding Anthony’s exit meeting, Jackson said, “I thought it went well. I thought all our players put something into it. I challenged them with the idea of going into the meetings and telling me how they’re going to help the team next year. I think most of them did.’’