Anthony has previously stated staying with Knicks is his preference.
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson has insisted that free-agent-to-be Carmelo Anthony is in the organisation’s future plans and believes he can still improve.
The former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers coach was officially unveiled to the media on Tuesday as he begins work in his first front office role.
One of the key decisions facing Jackson this summer will be sorting out Anthony’s long-term future, with the Knicks able to offer a lengthier deal worth more money to the 29-year-old.
However, he has previously insisted that he is no longer motivated by money at this stage and he is focused on winning a championship. In addition, he wants to sit down with the Knicks first at the end of the season to discuss the plans for the future.
Jackson insists that Melo is part of their plan and hopes to help him improve his game further, as the noise around the franchise is seemingly suggesting that the Knicks star will re-sign in the summer.
“No doubt,” said Jackson, as reported by ESPN.
“There’s no doubt about Carmelo being one of the top scorers in the league, maybe the best individual isolation player in the game. I have no problems with committing to saying Carmelo is in the future plans.
“I think there are a number of things I see Carmelo doing as he moves forward. And I think I was on record saying a year ago that I think Carmelo, as great a player as he is, still has another level he can go to. And I hope together, with the team we create, he can get there.”
Anthony has praised the decision to appoint Jackson in recent days, claiming that it was a real “power move” to bring him into the organisation which hints at the possibility that he will be influenced by the early steps taken to transform the Knicks into a contender.
Owner James Dolan insists that Jackson will have full control over decisions moving forward and so it remains to be seen what he has planned in terms of rebuilding the roster with Anthony playing an integral role if he decides to stay.
COMMENTS