Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
If Carmelo Anthony Wants A Ring, He’ll Have To Chase It
by Jake Barrett
If you told a New York Knicks fan in 2011 that Carmelo Anthony, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose would one day join forces with Phil Jackson in the front office, it would have been a dream come true. In 2016, that dream is an injury away from becoming a nightmare and every New York fan knows it. Every time Derrick Rose has driven to the basket, Knicks fans hold their breath.
The Knicks are finally an interesting team this year and the hope of a serious playoff run has seemed more realistic than ever. That’s because, on paper, the Knicks have a fairly good roster. Kristaps Porzingis is the future of the franchise, Courtney Lee was a great pick up as their shooting guard, and Brandon Jennings could throw his name in the hat for sixth man of the year. On paper, this truly is an interesting team with expectations.
Unfortunately, it’s… still not enough. And during Carmelo’s tenure in New York, they will never be able to do enough. The Knicks are still very far away from the Eastern Conference Championship conversation and unless they become a landing spot for free agents like Blake Griffin or Serge Ibaka next summer, they just aren’t good enough. Joakim Noah hasn’t had a healthy, productive season since 2013-2014. Anthony’s scoring production has declined the last three seasons. Derrick Rose hasn’t been the same since he hoisted his MVP trophy.
Who was Phil Jackson kidding this summer? No Al Horford, no Dwight Howard, no Whiteside. Joakim Noah? Four-years, $72 million? Phil Jackson sold New York fans on the idea that Rose could resurrect his career as a Knick and then crushed their dreams by giving Noah a four-year contract they will soon regret. The inevitable is Noah’s contract will hurt the Knicks and their pursuit next summer when players who could help the franchise cannot be afforded.
I will admit, the Knicks are in a much better position today than they were back in March of 2014 when they hired Jackson, but this is no Championship contender. This team might not even make the playoffs; they might not even having a winning record at seasons end.
Carmelo Anthony faced the media before the season opener in Cleveland this year. When asked about the fixation on championships over everything else, Carmelo didn’t talk about his personal pursuit to hang a banner in Madison Square Garden. “Just because you don’t win a championship, that shouldn’t be turned into how you think about me,” Anthony answered.
What a liar, right? After all, this is a guy who was upset over his Slam Magazine ranking among NBA players. Carmelo will chase that ring, no doubt about it. Anthony will be 35-years-old when free agency begins in 2019 and won’t be signing with the New York Knicks. You might see him in Cleveland, you may see him in Golden State. Wherever he lands, he will be chasing a ring.
