Knicks · The case for bringing Carmelo Anthony back to Knicks (page 1)

The prospect of Carmelo Anthony returning to Madison Square Garden to play for the Knicks again is turning from a whisper into a conversation — with Anthony doing nothing to rebuff the possibility.

Leon Rose, who served as Anthony’s agent at CAA, will take over as Knicks president this week, and bringing his former client back to play for his home town team is certainly an option worth exploring.

“Until I sit down and see the whole plan, I don’t know,” was Anthony’s response to all the chatter.

The Knicks beat the Bulls, 125-115, Saturday at Madison Square Garden to improve to 18-42 on the season. But Rose has plenty of work to do once he takes office. The absence of previous experience running an NBA franchise makes it impossible to guess how he plans to turn the struggling basketball franchise into a playoff contender. But the Knicks are hoping he’ll have similar results as former agents Bob Myers and Rob Pelinka have had with the Warriors and Lakers, respectively.

Whether the plan includes the return of Anthony is uncertain, but before you say, “Been there, done that,” let’s look at the positives of such a move.

The Knicks, who snapped a six-game losing streak with Saturday’s win, are clearly rebuilding, hoping a core group of young players — RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Frank Ntilikina, Allonzo Trier, Kevin Knox and Dennis Smith Jr. — can be part a long-term nucleus. Robinson had a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds against the Bulls, while Barrett had 19 points and Knox 12. But they could use a veteran like Anthony to show them how to be consistent pros.

It would be an entirely different role for Anthony than when he was first acquired by the Knicks from the Nuggets in a blockbuster deal at the 2011 NBA trade deadline. Anthony was asked to be the savior then. He was Brooklyn-born, a national champion at Syracuse and the face of his new franchise. He tried to live up to those lofty expectations, but never got past the second round of the playoffs during 6 ½ seasons.

When he was traded to the Thunder in 2017, there were no bridges burned. Time and too many defeats had taken their toll. The Knicks needed a change — and so did Anthony.

It would be different this time. The Knicks wouldn’t be asking Anthony to be their savior again. He’d be more of a sage. Anthony will turn 36 in May, but judging by his current tenure with the Trail Blazers, he still has plenty to offer an NBA team. He is averaging 15.5 points a game, well off his career average of 23.7, but still enough to contribute on a consistent basis.

Rose should be looking to add players who can make that type of contribution on the floor. Anthony won’t dominate the way he did during his previous tenure in New York, when the offense went through him and he was responsible for taking all the last shots. Julius Randle, who had 22 points Saturday, handles that now. Anthony doesn’t have to be that kind of player anymore, which is why he might be good for a redo with the Knicks.---------------Read on!

https://nypost.com/2020/03/01/the-case-for-bringing-carmelo-anthony-back-to-knicks/

I’m ambivalent about this. Perhaps best to wait and see the team and the purpose for him to do this.
So my first question is “why”? I’ll preface with he is not a bad guy.
He gonna “help the young guys”? Ok, I won’t argue with that.
I can see his personal journey and the fans to perhap “Fix what went wrong” but its not there is the “curse of the bambino” here. Melo is the 17th scorer in the NBA history who achieved many of those points on teams that were not great and he was the best player. He had some good teams in Denver going to the conf finals and one notable season in NYC as a top 5 MVP player. His longevity and relative good health are testament to good genes and taking care of his body. He aged bad and dedicated himself to a nice comeback. He is not exactly moving the dial in Portland but he is relevant again. Good for him and his dedicated fans.
A year in NY? A good bye tour? A public love fest that sells tickets? Some off the bench love? Support the next coach as the Wiley vet and teach frank how to dress? I have no issue. This season he’d have been our best closer.
“Mooby good bye tour”.........buy the t-shirts, have a little video tribute in each city that gives two shits a phuch. Maybe he self produces a documentary about it and he gets to say “ I wanted to retire a knick”. So in the end is it a good thing for him? the fans? Or does he help the team?

I didn't like Carmelo's game when he was dominant. Didn't feel her ever made any of his teammates better. Why would I want him now, with reduced skills and a young impressionable team. Why assume that because he's older, he'd be a good influence?

By the time Melo left NY, Garden fans were groaning whenever he would start to ISO. Really dont want to go back to that. If by some miracle, we built a legit contender while Melo was gone. We had been making the playoffs all that time. If mgmt wanted to bring Melo off the bench, sure, why not.

Thats not the situation we're in and Melo will want his old job back dominating the offense. Might say the right things, but I dont see Melo accepting a minor role on a team struggling to make the playoffs. That would be the only role Id want to see him have in NY.

I don’t see a reaso for the Knicks or Melo to do this. He is playing for a great coach in Portland. He should stay there if he has the opportunity. No issue with him signing a one day contract with the Knicks when he is ready to retire so he can retire a Knick.

I feel really good for him. Way to go. But why bring him here? Why? WHY? He is not putting us over the edge. We are not even near the edge. Come on now

I'd rather have melo playing 20mins at PF than randle playing 30+. If we can move randle and melo is just a cheap contract, I'm not too opposed to it as I don't think we'll win next year (need another good pick)

#fuckmelo

ramtour420 wrote:I feel really good for him. Way to go. But why bring him here? Why? WHY? He is not putting us over the edge. We are not even near the edge. Come on now

Crazy to even think about this as an option. Melo plays with Lillard and McCollum and they are not good. How is he going to help the Knicks become any better?

Nope. No thank you

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”
Heraclitus

His game is the antithesis of what you want to teach young players.

If Rose brings back Melo, I think I will be done with this franchise.

I fail to see any role he would play that would be positive.

I’d rather keep Moët Harkless who does more to help his teams win without scoring points.

I’d rather keep Taj Gibson who has done more to help Mitchell Robinson develop into a winner.

I’d rather keep Portia who still has a chance to put things together.

There is no justification, in my mind, other than Rose and Melo being friends. And if you are running this kind of business based on friendship and not the cold hard truth of stats and personality fit, then you are not a good GM and your team will suck.

Can't be any worse than what we're watching now.

Unless of course you're such a fan of Randle spinovers that you don't want anyone cutting in on his possessions...

jrodmc wrote:Can't be any worse than what we're watching now.

now that is great salesmanship

jrodmc wrote:Can't be any worse than what we're watching now.

Unless of course you're such a fan of Randle spinovers that you don't want anyone cutting in on his possessions...

JROD, Chime in as a Melo uberfan. Im not being snarky but do you want him back? Does it tarnish his career if he is off the bench? Does Melo look to play with a contender or cellar dweller as did Vince Carter?
Does he have the "Stature" of a fairwell tour or a lightening rod to attract negativity? Is this a "retire his number" kind of thing?

The only reason to bring Melo back to NYK is so, when he gets into the TOP 10 of the all time NBA scoring list (which he should be at the end of next season), he does it as a Knick.

Next year is another year the Knicks will be in the lottery. Won’t hurt bringing back Melo for one year and then retire a Knick (especially if Randle is traded).

This should not be a thing right now. There are so many things ahead that of this that it should be a headline. Who we drafting, who's the coach next year etc....

DeAndre Jordan and Taj Gibson have been good veteran influences on Mitch.
The only way i see the Knicks (Rose) doing this is if he thinks Melo can be a good influence on RJ Barrett.
RJ already has the bully gene in his game that Melo had. So maybe Melo can help RJ refine it? I don't know i'm reallly trying to put a positive spin on it because i like the idea of Melo retiring a Knick but i admit it's a reach.

Would Melo come off bench?