However, Anthony made it clear that he belongs in NYC as he told New York Times, “I’m here to stay”.
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Anthony is now entering his 13th season in the National Basketball Association and many people believe that he has already passed his prime, but the 31-year-old has vowed to prove his doubters wrong when the new season commences later this month.
The Knicks’ interest with the former player follows after it was heard that the two-time “NBA Sixth Man of the Year” was asking for a contract extension with Los Angeles Clippers, the team he is now playing for, but was being denied.
“I don’t even need to speak to Phil about plans and everything that’s going on”, Anthony said. But even with the No. 4 overall pick and almost $30 million in salary cap room, the Knicks didn’t land a ready-made star to place beside him. [Me being upset with Knicks draft] was one, me waiving my trade clause was two, me not wanting to be here is three.
Carmelo Anthony has not demanded to be traded, but it’s in his best interest to demand a trade and remove himself from this situation.
Anthony already expressed in the past the patience he has while Knicks president Phil Jackson is trying to rebuild the sunken franchise. “Then after a while it gets old, you start hearing the same thing from a different source every day, a different team every day”.
Anthony and Jackson didn’t speak about the Knicks’ free-agent acquisitions in July during the recruiting period. “I’m just excited. I know the atmosphere is going to be great”.
Derek Fisher hinted Porzingis will be part of player introductions as a member of the starting lineup, though the coach said it’s still being discussed.
The Knicks are coming off a franchise-worst 17-65 record and are hoping to have a better run this season.
Despite off-season speculation he wanted to be traded, eight-time All-Star Anthony said he was satisfied with where he was. “I’m excited. This is a dream come true”. The Knicks are nowhere near winning a championship, and Anthony is still valuable enough that the team could recoup the type of young assets it lost under the previous regime.
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“I’m not nervous, I’m just excited”, said Porzingis, who looked a little nervous after Tuesday’s practice. “And then there’s another tier that you have to go to when things don’t go your way and that’s the tier that we’re at right now”.
