NBA

Carmelo Anthony almost ready to re-think Knicks future

TORONTO — All-Star Weekend never used to be the highlight of Carmelo Anthony’s season.

But with the Knicks on the verge of missing the playoffs for a third straight year, this event has become Anthony’s lone big stage, and he did not sound happy about it.
Anthony’s mood turned sharp when asked about the prospect of the Knicks missing the playoffs for a third straight season. He made the playoffs in his first 10 seasons — eight of them in Denver.

“That doesn’t sit well with me,’’ Anthony said Friday during an All-Star Weekend press conference. “To reflect a little about that, it’s tough. To think about that, to know that it can be three years if we don’t pick it up right away. I try not to think about it right now. In actuality, you have to start thinking about that eventually.’’

Asked if would he have to also think about his Knicks future, Anthony, who has a no-trade clause, gave a eyebrow-raising response.

“Not yet. Not yet. Not yet,’’ Anthony said.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll have that conversation with myself, my family, my team [agents]. That’s not a conversation right now.’’

That seemed a little different view than his training-camp message: “I’m here to stay.’’

There was even a report Friday night Boston and Cleveland had “very preliminary talks’’ about whether to ask the Knicks if they wanted to join a three-way trade with Anthony that included Kevin Love, with Anthony going to Cleveland.

An NBA source told The Post the Knicks had not been approached by the teams, and there was “nothing to it.” The report also stated talks did not progress.

The Post reported in December 2014 that Anthony was mulling whether he would waive his no-trade clause if a deal was presented. After the season, Anthony admitted he was “second-guessing’’ his re-signing until a dinner the following month with team president Phil Jackson in London.

Anthony said he wants Jackson to do more, and free agency is another big chance for the Zen Master to add to the Anthony-Kristaps Porzingis base.

Carmelo Anthony and Knicks interim coach Kurt RambisPaul J, Bereswill

“I think everybody always kind of dreams and hopes that they can play with another great player, another star player,” Anthony said. “It’s a star players’ league. I think that’s what we all talk about every time we get together. ‘I want to play with you. I want to play with you.’ Even here different guys say, ‘Come play with me, come play with me.’ That’s always the mindset.’’

There was also an interesting exchange when the Zen Master’s name was raised. Jackson said Monday he wanted Anthony to play in the All-Star Game despite laboring with a sore left knee, saying the two had spoken about it.

“Phil says a lot of things, man,” Anthony said. “Phil says a lot of things. … It really wasn’t a conversation. Phil sent me a text that said: ‘Just try to enjoy the weekend.’ He’s glad to see me here now. I can enjoy it more than I could enjoy it last year. Take advantage of the moment and enjoy it. It was a one-way conversation.’’

Anthony was hobbled last season with a torn patellar tendon, but played on it in the All-Star Game because the event was at the Garden. He had season-ending surgery days later. Why do these festivities mean so much to him?

“The most important thing is the fans,’’ Anthony said. “They voted me in. I feel obligated to that part of it, to participate in it. They still want me as part of this game. It’s more about the fans.’’

Anthony is doing rehab work for his knee every day and won’t ask for limited minutes on Sunday. The Knicks are in a 1-10 slide, one game out of 13th place in the Eastern Conference, and have fired coach Derek Fisher.

“It’s locking in now,’’ Anthony said with the Knicks five games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. “Everybody needs to realize what’s at stake now. Put the two-thirds of the season behind us and really lock in and focus in and make that push.’’

At least he’s in better spirits than he was at last year’s All-Star Game, when he could barely move on the court and the Knicks were amid a 17-65 disaster of a season. Now he has the rookie sensation Porzingis on his side, so Anthony said he is appreciative to a degree.

“The process I had to go through surgery, where I was at this week last year,’’ Anthony said. “Being able to work myself back to being as another starter of the All-Star Game, it’s something I can be proud of.’’