For the conspiracy theorists who thought Knicks president Phil Jackson only wanted Carmelo Anthony back for the right price, only wanted him if he took a paycut, the Zen Master dispelled the myth Thursday night.
Phil’s all in.
During their final meeting in Los Angeles, Jackson told Anthony he will give him the maximum contract of five years, $129 million, which would blow the competition out of the water. Anthony didn’t give Jackson a commitment, nor has he decided whether he will take the small paycut the Knicks would prefer.
A league source told The Post a decision should come over the weekend. Jackson has said giving out max contracts puts “limitations’’ on a club trying to build a title winner, but he showed he can’t afford to lose his cornerstone player for whom the Knicks traded the farm during the 2010-11 season.
In a sequence of events made for Hollywood, the Anthony free-agency tour ended Thursday with Jackson and Lakers president Jeanie Buss squaring off in separate meetings for the heartstrings of Anthony. The two team presidents are engaged to be married.
The under-the-cap Lakers also promised Anthony the maximum salary, but that is only four years, $96 million for opposing clubs.
Jackson flew into L.A. with coach Derek Fisher and GM Steve Mills to meet with Anthony one last time following the Lakers’ 2 ½-hour presentation at their practice facility. Knicks owner James Dolan was not part of the Knicks meeting with Anthony.
That Anthony and the Knicks wanted yet another meeting seemed to underscore the team’s favorite status. Anthony did not have the Knicks brass fly to L.A. to tell them to work out a sign-and-trade with the salary-cap-hindered Bulls, who brought up a scenario in which the team could give him $16 million per for four years. The best offer the Bulls could make — and keep Taj Gibson — is four years, $72.6 million.
Anthony is trying to speak with free agent Pau Gasol about playing together in New York — not L.A. The Knicks have only their $3.3 million mini mid-level exception to offer Gasol, who made $19 million last season. But Gasol’s good friend/countryman Jose Calderon is now a Knick and it could set up the opportunity to play in New York with his brother, center Marc Gasol, a free agent in 2015.
Just as importantly, it shows Anthony still wants to make it work in New York despite their 37-45 season.
In another twist, it appeared Kobe Bryant would have the last word with Anthony late Thursday night. Bryant didn’t arrive in time for the late-afternoon meeting as he was flying home from a European vacation. But reportedly he planned to meet with Anthony after the Knicks meeting. As he left the Lakers facility, escorted by Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, Anthony was asked by reporters if he would see Bryant. He responded “We’ll see.’’
“You know I can’t say anything right now, but I wanted to stop and say ‘hey,’ ” Anthony said as he signed autographs for a handful of Lakers fans.
Bryant has spoken with Anthony across the last month about the merits of playing in L.A. Last week, Jackson admitted Bryant can be “persuasive,” though the two occasionally feuded with the Lakers.
According to media outlets in L.A., movie producer Joel Silver was present for the Lakers powwow and showed a short film — patterned after “The Matrix’’ — in homage to Anthony.
Silver also spoke to Anthony about avenues he and his wife, La La Vazquez, can take into the entertainment industry, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com.
The Post reported in Tuesday’s editions Vazquez, who has a second home in L.A. with Anthony, doesn’t want him to leave the Knicks. “There’s reason to believe he’s staying,’’ a source connected to Melo’s inner circle told The Post Tuesday.
While Bryant missed the Lakers meeting, Lakers legend James Worthy sat in his place. In May, the Lakers had tepid interest in teaming Anthony with Bryant, leaning toward spending their cap money in 2015. But something changed, likely Bryant’s urging.
Bryant is a favorite of Buss, and she has referred to these final two years after Bryant signed an extension as his “farewell tour.’’ Does Anthony want to be part of that — a club still with no head coach or any bench? Of course, things could change if LeBron James enters the picture.
The Lakers still seem long shots. The Bulls, whom Anthony visited Tuesday, are hampered by cap-space issues. Houston should have the near-max cap room if the Rockets ship Jeremy Lin to Philadelphia, but Anthony is leery of uprooting his family to Texas despite a potential Big 3 of him, Dwight Howard and James Harden. Dallas cut into its cap space Thursday by re-signing Dirk Nowitzki to a three-year, $30 million deal and doesn’t appear a serious factor.
Jackson said before the draft it’s best to have the first meeting and the last one, which Thursday night’s sit-down is presumed to be unless there’s a breakup of the Miami Big 3.
Jackson prefers Anthony takes less than the maximum to give him more flexibility to make a run at 2015 and 2016 free agents. Anthony said during the All-Star break he’d be willing to do it. But if he wants the max, it’s his. Losing Anthony is too big a black eye for Jackson and the franchise.
This was the third time Jackson has met formally with Anthony since the season ended in mid-April. Anthony also met another time with Knicks officials without Jackson present.
The Knicks have remained confident throughout the process because of the complexities of the Bulls’ and Rockets’ salary-cap situations.