Melo expected to listen to other teams before re-signing with Knicks.
New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson has revealed that he is concerned about the prospect of losing Carmelo Anthony in free agency this summer.
Jackson also insisted that he “wasn’t losing sleep” over the situation, but he has made it clear to Anthony what he is able to offer him next season and it all depends on whether or not he decides to remain in the Big Apple.
Anthony has previously said he plans to opt out of the final year of his deal this summer, but Jackson revealed that he has discussed the possibility of his star opting back in for the final year and then testing free agency in 2015 instead.
“I told him it might be a good idea to hang in here and see what it’s like for a year and go out the next year,” Jackson said, ESPN reports.
“But that’s his option, that’s what he’s earned, and that’s what’s part of his contractual agreement. He has the right to do that. But I just offered that as, ‘Look, this gives you an opportunity to see how this is going to change, see how we’re going to get going, your relationship to the team and the coach and the system or whatever, the system we impose.”
Despite claims that the decision will be solely based on choosing the team that gives him the best chance of winning, Melo will make more money if he re-signs with the Knicks instead of another interested party.
With the Knicks, he could sign a five-year contract worth around $129m, while if he were to sign with another team, the maximum he could get would be $95.8m over four years.
Nevertheless, Jackson insists that if Anthony does decide to move on then they will “survive it”, but ultimately he will be hoping that he opts to stay in New York as he looks to usher in a new cycle of success.
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