New York Knicks

Carmelo hasn't given up on the Knicks, wants to recruit free agents

Published Mar. 8, 2016 10:46 a.m. ET

foxsports

Carmelo Anthony's future with the New York Knicks is up in the air. Yes, he holds a no-trade clause on a contract that can go through 2019. But the 31-year-old forward appears to be increasingly frustrated with New York's on-court performance and off-court leadership.

Last week, he called team owner James Dolan out to a heckling fan and was later forced to issue an apology. A little while later, Anthony wondered aloud why his peers—LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade—have had more success in their careers.

But, apparently, Anthony doesn't want out of the Big Apple. No. Instead, he's interested in recruiting free agents to the Knicks (via ESPN):

"Put me at the head of the table, and let's go to work," Anthony told reporters after the Knicks' practice Monday in Denver. The Knicks will have at least $18 million in cap space this summer, and Anthony wants to sell free agents on what it's like to play in New York. "If we want this team to be better, if we want more pieces of this team, I don't have a choice but to go out there and do my job and try to get people to come," he said. "And for them to see it from my perspective [more] than anybody else's perspective -- see it from a player's perspective."

Given everything that's transpired over the past few weeks, this is odd. Anthony has publicly stated his desire to win in New York numerous times, but the franchise's trajectory doesn't call for much success in the immediate future. Even if they sign Sacramento Kings point guard Rajon Rondo, whom Anthony cites by name in the article, the Knicks probably still won't even make the playoffs next season.

If Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams both opt out of their contracts, New York will have enough cap space to sign a max contract, but so will over half the league—from a free agency pool that isn't very attractive.

It's best for everyone involved that Melo moves on, accepts a trade and lets New York rebuild around rookie phenom Kristaps Porzingis. If Anthony isn't traded this summer, the Knicks risk him declining and permanently damaging his market value.

Forget about short-term relief, this franchise needs to finally start thinking big picture.