NBA

Knicks reps attended Carmelo’s free-agency summit

When Carmelo Anthony staged a dinner meeting with his entourage Friday night, at least two Knicks officials were in attendance to discuss his free-agent future, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Among the attendees at the dinner meeting at Pergola, a well-known Middle Eastern eatery on 28th Street, was Knicks general manager Steve Mills.

Anthony, his Creative Artists Agency agent Leon Rose and CAA advisor William Wesley were also in the the group, which sat in a private back room for “a few hours,’’ the source said. Anthony’s birthday is Thursday, but this was more than a birthday bash, as Melo becomes a free agent July 1st.

On April 29, Anthony secretly met for two hours at a Tribeca steakhouse with Knicks president Phil Jackson, who told him at the time Steve Kerr was going to be the new Knicks coach. That the lines of communication appear open between the player and the team is a strong sign for the Knicks.

Kerr passed on the Knicks’ offer, and it is likely Anthony was being filled in on the ongoing coaching search, which soon could focus on Thunder point guard Derek Fisher when his season ends.

Mills, unlike Jackson, has a strong relationship with the CAA agency that represents Anthony. Mills particularly is close with Wesley.

Anthony may not have a lot of solid options outside the Knicks. The Bulls and Rockets were first-round knockouts and have to do a lot of maneuvering to get beneath the salary cap. Plus, Minnesota’s Kevin Love could be a prime trade candidate for the Bulls. The Lakers have cap space, but sources have indicated the Lakers don’t believe Anthony makes a good match with Kobe Bryant. Dallas could be the wild card.