While Carmelo Anthony praised the Knicks offseason moves, saying the Andrea Bargnani trade was a “steal for us,’’ he stopped short of predicting he and the Knicks would have a long marriage.
Anthony can opt out of his contract after the 2013-14 season, so the Knicks’ success in the coming season could be pivotal to whether he re-signs or looks for greener, warmer pastures — perhaps in Los Angeles. The Lakers already are eyeing an Anthony/LeBron James tandem with their cap space.
When asked if this season was major for him in terms of making a decision, Anthony demurred.
“I can’t do that,’’ he told ESPN.com while coaching at his summer basketball camp in Las Vegas. “It’s too tough right now.
“It’s a big year,” said Anthony, who just came back from China for his Jordan Brand trip. “A huge upcoming season for me, as a team and as an organization.”
It could be a bigger year for the Nets, and Anthony gave them more lavish praise for their offseason moves, calling it “special.’’
The Nets are widely considered having surpassed the defending Atlantic Division-champion Knicks because of their summer additions of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and Andre Kirilenko.
“We’ll see whether we have enough,” Anthony said. “We haven’t even stepped on the court yet.
“It’s special what [the Nets) did,” Anthony added. “J-Kidd [Jason] will have four or five future Hall of Famers. I played with him for a year and also with USA Basketball and I know his mentality. He knows the game. It won’t be hard for him to deal with those guys because he’ll put them in position and only have to tell them things one time.’’
Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald said this month he expected Anthony to re-sign, and Anthony said in China he “doubts it’’ when asked if he will be a Laker in 2014-15.
“We obviously love Carmelo,’’ Grunwald said. “We think he’s great for New York and New York is great for him. We see a long-term successful partnership with him as we go forward.’’
The Post reported soon after the season ended Anthony hoped the Knicks would add a secondary scorer to help him. Maybe the big Italian, Bargnani, who is training with Italy’s National Team, becomes that guy.
“I’ve been staying under the radar,” Anthony said. “I let them do what they do. We got [Metta World Peace], and I think Bargnani was really a steal for us. He’ll help us spread the floor. We got J.R. [Smith] back and we kept the core guys together.”
* John Baker, the agent for 6-foot-11 center/power forward Jeremy Tyler, said he believes his client will be at the team’s training camp.
The Knicks are desperate for a backup center to Tyson Chandler after shipping out Marcus Camby.
Tyler excelled at the Vegas summer league as the team’s starting power forward.
“From all indications, they want him in training camp but no formal negotiations have taken place,’’ Baker said.
Tyler said in Las Vegas the Knicks were his favorite team growing up in San Diego.
“Who wouldn’t want to be a Knick?,’’ Baker said.
Tyler is expected to receive a partially guaranteed minimum contract. He jumped from high school to Israel and the Philippines before playing last season for Golden State and Atlanta. The Knicks have three open roster spots and are trying to sign a third point guard.