Carmelo Anthony: Phil Jackson needs to add players. Good players
Carmelo Anthony is ready to help Knicks front office in recruiting the free agents from July
Carmelo Anthony is ready to help Knicks front office in recruiting the free agents from July.
Anthony missed the second part of the season with a knee injury but he is looking forward for the summer and the NBA draft.
Per NY Post, Now Anthony, who plans to be doing all basketball drills by June 1 except scrimmages, is trying to build this mess back up. He thinks Jackson and GM Steve Mills will make him a part of the process.
“During free agency, if the front office says, ‘Melo, we want you to talk to these guys and come along with us,’ I will,’’ Anthony said. “At the end of the day it comes back to me. If I can play a big part of the help and build this team, I’d do it.’’
“I can help people and open their eyes up on New York, the good and bad,’’ said Anthony, who played 41 games this season before having surgery after the All-Star Game.
Asked about the projected top two picks, big men Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony said: “I have my thoughts. I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about that. I have my thoughts on those guys and this class period. I think this class is pretty powerful. This is one of the better classes over the last few years.’’
Anthony said it’s time to win now, but doesn’t want Jackson to trade the pick for a veteran. The Knicks have a 19.9 percent of landing the top pick as the lottery’s second seed, behind the Timberwolves.
Anthony said the Knicks “have to” explore trading the pick, but said they can get enough veterans in free agency. He hopes the pick will “have an impact and be a major part of this team.
“That’s the good thing of this season, we have money and cap space,’’ Anthony said. “If we do take our pick, we still have $30 million in cap space to make some big plays. I think you need a draft pick. If you get a top pick, take our chance with who we’re going to draft, then we build other pieces around it with the money we have.’’
Asked what Jackson needs to add most, Anthony said: “Players. Good players.’’
Anthony missed the second part of the season with a knee injury but he is looking forward for the summer and the NBA draft.
Per NY Post, Now Anthony, who plans to be doing all basketball drills by June 1 except scrimmages, is trying to build this mess back up. He thinks Jackson and GM Steve Mills will make him a part of the process.
“During free agency, if the front office says, ‘Melo, we want you to talk to these guys and come along with us,’ I will,’’ Anthony said. “At the end of the day it comes back to me. If I can play a big part of the help and build this team, I’d do it.’’
“I can help people and open their eyes up on New York, the good and bad,’’ said Anthony, who played 41 games this season before having surgery after the All-Star Game.
Asked about the projected top two picks, big men Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony said: “I have my thoughts. I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about that. I have my thoughts on those guys and this class period. I think this class is pretty powerful. This is one of the better classes over the last few years.’’
Anthony said it’s time to win now, but doesn’t want Jackson to trade the pick for a veteran. The Knicks have a 19.9 percent of landing the top pick as the lottery’s second seed, behind the Timberwolves.
Anthony said the Knicks “have to” explore trading the pick, but said they can get enough veterans in free agency. He hopes the pick will “have an impact and be a major part of this team.
“That’s the good thing of this season, we have money and cap space,’’ Anthony said. “If we do take our pick, we still have $30 million in cap space to make some big plays. I think you need a draft pick. If you get a top pick, take our chance with who we’re going to draft, then we build other pieces around it with the money we have.’’
Asked what Jackson needs to add most, Anthony said: “Players. Good players.’’
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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