If new Knicks general manager Steve Millls thinks he’ll be able to lock Carmelo Anthony up in late February to a long-term contract extension, he has got another thing coming.
In an interview conducted in September and published Wednesday, Anthony said he undoubtedly will opt out this summer and become a free agent for the first time in his career.
The Knicks, in late February, are permitted to offer Anthony an extension on the three-year anniversary of his Knicks’ sign-and-extend trade, but the star forward wants no part of that.
Anthony wants to be free at least to perhaps kick around the tires — of the Knicks and other clubs. Perhaps he wouldn’t mind being wined, dined and courted either.
“I want to be a free agent,’’ Anthony told The New York Observer. “I think everybody in the NBA dreams to be a free agent at least one time in their career. It’s like you have an evaluation period.
“It’s like if I’m in the gym and I have all the coaches, all the owners, all the GMs come into the gym and just evaluate everything I do. So yes, I want that experience.’’
Anthony never got that experience previously, choosing to force a trade from Denver to New York in February 2011 before he became a free agent that summer. He didn’t want to be a free agent during the expected lockout. But he got his first choice — the Knicks — only because they upped their offer to Denver and beat out the Nets.
Anthony also said in a different September interview he’s “not going anywhere’’ when the free-agent topic came up. But clearly he wants an out in case the Knicks slide in the standings this season and he doesn’t see improvement on the horizon. The Knicks play in Melo’s hometown of Baltimore on Thursday night against the Wizards.
The Post reported after last season’s second-round disappointment against the Pacers that Anthony would potentially be intrigued by a move to Los Angeles, especially since his wife, La La Vasquez spends so much time in Hollywood and they have a place out there. Additionally, Anthony was concerned he didn’t have a trusty secondary scorer last season, according to a confidant, and hoped the Knicks would add one. The Knicks think they have one in Andrea Bargnani, who has a 15.2 career scoring average, but it remains to be seen.
During the Observer interview, Anthony said things are still viable in New York and chatter he’d be interested in Los Angeles is premature.
“I came to New York for a reason,” Anthony said. “I’ve been with you all my life, almost to a fault. I wanted to come here and take on the pressures of playing in New York. So one thing I would tell my fans: If you haven’t heard it from me, then it ain’t true.”
During a business summit in September in which he was promoting his new sports energy coconut-water drink, Anthony joked he’d be interested in the Lakers, but only to use his PowerCoco brand.
Another big factor is the Knicks can also pay Anthony about $35 million more on a long-term deal than the Lakers and other clubs under the rules of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
The Knicks are the only club that can offer him a five-year deal — worth approximately $129 million. Competing teams can go only up to four years — at about $96 million.
Still, Anthony and his handlers definitely want to keep the Knicks off balance on his upcoming decision. Anthony wants the Knicks not to get complacent so they will build a winning team around him for the long-term future as the window could be closing on the current core.
It was one of the key reasons Mills was hired to replace Glen Grunwald, to ensure Anthony stays. Mills is said to have a good relationship with Anthony. Mills has said repeatedly the key in retaining Anthony is making him feel he is part of a winning organization going forward.
That decision, apparently, won’t be reached in February but in July.