NBA

Phil Jackson to Carmelo: Put off free agency for a year

There’s still a chance Carmelo Anthony may not become a free agent on July 1 after all.

Knicks president Phil Jackson said he’s trying to convince Anthony to opt into the final year of his contract and forgo free agency for another year, and reports Anthony is mulling it.

According to a source, Anthony’s contract states he has until June 23 to notify the Knicks whether he will opt out.

In a 45-minute meeting with beat writers at the team’s Tarrytown facility Thursday, Jackson also confirmed Derek Fisher is on his list of coaching candidates, but he’s unsure Fisher is ready to move from Los Angeles to New York. Jackson added Steve Kerr, the previous front-runner for the job, gave him a verbal “commitment’’ before the Warriors job opened.

During his late-April dinner with Anthony, Jackson revealed he suggested to Anthony the scenario of opting in, rather than becoming a free agent. Jackson said he still could offer Anthony an extension during that time under rules of the collective bargaining agreement.

“I’ve told him it might be a good idea to hang in here and see what it’s like for a year,’’ Jackson said. “Go out the next year. That’s his option. That’s what he’s earned. It’s part of his contractual agreement. I just offered that this gives you an opportunity to see how this is going to change, how we’re going to get it going.

“He said, ‘I’ll think about it.’ ”

The advantage from both sides of delaying free agency is it gives them more information on what sort of pay cut Anthony would have to take for the team to lure free agents in the summer of 2015, when the Knicks will have cap space and LeBron James could be available. It would prevent Anthony from taking a needless reduction if the Knicks can’t recruit anyone in 2015 and give him impetus to bolt.

The risk would be, if Anthony were injured during the 2014-15 season, it would hurt his market value, but Jackson said insurance policies would alleviate those fears.

When The Post asked Anthony on breakup day, April 17, if he considered delaying free agency one year to get a better feel for Jackson, he answered it was in his “best interests’’ to do so now. Since the preseason, Anthony was gung-ho he wanted to be courted as a free agent for the first time in his career.

Jackson admitted he is worried another team could swoop in and spoil the Knicks’ plans with Anthony if he becomes a free agent July 1.

“I’m not losing sleep over it, but I’m definitely concerned about the idea of a guy going into free agency,” Jackson said. “It only takes one bidder out there who has availability who can ruin your hopes and chances. We will survive it. That’s what I said and we’ll go forward. This a guy we recognize has the talent and skill that gets you through playoff game when things get sticky and grind-out. You need a guy capable of scoring with someone hanging on him in a situation that’s critical, and he’s one of the few players who can do that.’’

However, Anthony’s options in 2014 aren’t overwhelming. Although the Lakers have the necessary cap space, they’ve indicated he isn’t the right fit with Kobe Bryant. The Bulls and Rockets plan to vie for Anthony, but both clubs would have to rejigger their rosters to get under the salary cap. Neither proved close to a title contender as both were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Jackson has mapped out a sensible plan for 2015 in which the Knicks can perhaps sign a max player and a near-max player if Anthony takes less, as he first suggested during All-Star Weekend.

“We have an opportunity in the next couple of years to get back in the hunt for free agents who are headline players,’’ Jackson said. “Could we get two, not one? The reality to do that involves Carmelo’s compliance. It might be a $10 million ballplayer — possibly we can do that. He’s willing to do that because he wants to win a championship. That’s not the end of our negotiations with him. It’s point of emphasis. He opened the door and I stuck my foot into it. This is what we can do.’’

Jackson also suggested to Anthony the league is growing and new TV contracts are soon to be signed and the bigger max meals could be out there in 2015.The dialogue between Jackson and Anthony also has touched upon the Knicks’ next coach.

“These values are going to quite remarkably increase the size of income of the league everyone shares in it,’’ Jackson said.
Anthony’s entourage met with Knicks officials last Friday at a Manhattan bistro to discuss his future.

Anthony celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday and is now in the Bahamas.

“We have a communication that’s going on, and I like it,’’ Jackson said. “I like the direction. Unfortunately I told him Steve Kerr was going to coach the team and had to back off that. We haven’t talked about coaches since.’’