You’ve got to figure the Carmelo Anthony recruiting tour will continue on the Knicks’ road trip.
With Anthony likely headed for free agency this summer, places that would have interest in him or where he might have interest, have surfaced. Chicago. Houston. Los Angeles. And oh, yeah, New York. Figure the Yankees will somehow make a pitch at some point.
When the Knicks visited Chicago more than three weeks ago, there was a “Melo to Chicago” sign held by one kid.
“Good sign,” Anthony said, then later amending he meant the quality of the sign, not just the message.
So when the Knicks visit the Lakers Tuesday, figure on a positive reception. If the Knicks landed Phil Jackson for president, what better way for the Lakers to pay back the Knicks than by getting Anthony?
Forget that Jackson said, “I have no problems with committing to saying Carmelo is in the future plans” or that Anthony said he was “blessed and honored” hearing that because “I was hoping that I would be part of the future plans.” Fans can and will dream.
And Mike D’Antoni, whose future is hanging by a thread in L.A., where the Lakers already have been eliminated, would likely want nothing more than to beat his old team.
Lakers center Pau Gasol has been diagnosed with vertigo and isn’t expected to play against the Knicks.
The 7-foot Spaniard missed the second half of Los Angeles’ victory over Orlando after complaining of dizziness and nausea. He spent the night in a hospital, but the Lakers said an MRI of his head was normal.
Gasol will be re-examined Tuesday, but likely won’t play against the Knicks.
Mike Woodson said 38 to 40 wins probably would get the Knicks in the playoffs. The last time the Knicks snuck in with 38 was in 1988, when they need to win in the final game of the season – and did. They beat the Pacers, 88-86, when Kenny Walker got a piece of Steve Stipanovich’s shot at the buzzer.
The Knicks finished 38-44 and went to the playoffs and were eliminated in the first round, 3-1, by the Celtics. The Pacers, also 38-44, went home. The Knicks, since 1960 and excluding lockout seasons, got in with fewer wins only once: 1967 when they won 36.
That Knicks team had a cast of folks who have been in the news lately. The coach was Rick Pitino, finishing his first NBA season. And some other future noted coaches were around. The point guard was Mark Jackson, now with the Warriors. Rick Carlisle, now with the Mavs, was a reserve. And though not around at the end, Florida’s Billy Donovan, who played for Pitino at Providence, played in 44 regular-season games.
J.R. Smith said after Sunday’s game he was done wearing the mask that protected the facial fracture he suffered in February. … Iman Shumpert is expected back after missing Sunday with flu-like symptoms. … Raymond Felton, admitting discomfort from a hyperextended thumb, played Sunday and insisted he would play on the trip.