The Knicks finished 37-45 last season with Carmelo Anthony having statistically one of the best seasons of his career. That in a nutshell should tell you all you need to know about whether the Knicks should offer him a max contract. He can’t win a title by himself.
If Knicks president Phil Jackson is ever going to build a championship team that includes Anthony, offering him less than the max is the first step. It’s a win-win that could lead to plenty of wins.
No one should be surprised Anthony opted out of his deal to become a free agent July 1, least of all the Knicks. He first announced his intentions back in training camp when he was criticized for potentially causing an unnecessary distraction.
Whether you agreed or disagreed it was a proper topic of discussion so early in training camp, Anthony was consistent throughout the season about the likelihood of becoming a free agent while professing his openness to staying in New York.
You can’t blame him. Being a free agent is like enjoying a second Christmas and birthday all wrapped into one. You’re the center of attention, the subject of mostly compliments and the financial gain can be life-changing.
If all this is about winning ASAP, then Anthony will probably leave money on the table and go to Chicago, hoping Derrick Rose stays healthy. But if he wants to build a legacy and become an immortal, he will take less money to stay in New York and save enough cap space to build a quality supporting cast.
That “supporting cast” could include LeBron James in a scenario the Knicks are hoping isn’t a pipe dream. But any plan for the Knicks to compete for an NBA title anytime soon likely involves Anthony not getting the max contract he deserves. Yes, deserves.
Anthony reportedly can sign a maximum contract worth $129 million over five years with the Knicks. If he signs with another team, the maximum deal would be $96 million over four years.
Anthony is a superstar, one of the top scorers in the game. Other players have gotten max deals with fewer credentials. But Jackson must sell Anthony on a short-term as well as long-term plan that is in the best interest of his legacy. It shouldn’t be a tough sell.
Whatever Anthony signs for, he’s going to be a rich man, and only Dave Chappelle walks away from money like the extra $33 million Anthony could make re-signing with the Knicks.
But the Knicks can’t be that generous with all the talent they need to bring in to become a contender, beginning with a point guard and a foil for Anthony.
By taking less money or a deal structured to leave cap space for 2015, Anthony becomes an offseason hero, the superstar who sacrificed for the good of the franchise.
It’s not unprecedented. James took less money to sign with the Heat to team with Dwyane Wade and win two titles. In the NFL, Tom Brady has restructured his deal to take less money to help the Patriots remain Super Bowl contenders. By doing likewise in New York, Anthony goes from selfish to selfless.
Anthony said he was looking “at the big picture” and not solely focused on winning a title next season. “You’re looking at the next six years of your career,” he said during an interview with Vice Sports.
If Anthony is indeed looking that far into the future, then his best bet is to stay with the Knicks, trust Jackson and hope it leads to a championship in two or three years.
There are no guarantees anywhere he goes. The only guarantee is if he takes less money, he will have done his part. It will be up to Jackson to do the rest. In a way, Jackson will be Anthony’s buffer more than any player could be this side of LeBron. At least he won’t be the only one blamed if things go bad.
Jackson needs to keep Anthony after losing Steve Kerr and not being able to keep Anthony from opting out. Maybe the third time is the charm and both sides can agree on not being maxed out. It’s a win-win.