Carmelo Anthony is having a resurgence in Portland this season. After being exiled from the Rockets, and kicked from the league altogether, he was given another chance with the Blazers. Through 44 games, he hasn’t disappointed so far, averaging 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds on 42% shooting and 36% shooting from downtown.
While Melo has stated already that he’d like to retire in Portland, there will no doubt be a number of different suitors lined up for his services this summer.
Among them will be the New York Knicks, a place Anthony called home for seven seasons.
Incoming Knicks president Leon Rose is expected to be interested in bringing Carmelo Anthony back to the Knicks next season, according to multiple NBA executives.
Rose has served as Anthony’s agent at Creative Artists Agency since 2009. Rose was hired by Anthony partly to engineer his departure from Denver to the Knicks in a blockbuster deal at the 2011 trade deadline. Their union will end in the coming days as Rose officially takes control of the Knicks. Will there be an encore?
While reports indicate Melo’s willingness to return, the 10x All-Star has said himself that he’s not exactly sure what the future holds next for him.
“It’s hard to say because I don’t know what that situation is going to be,” Anthony told Newsday. “The easiest thing to say is, ‘His agent is there, he’s coming back.’ Until I sit down and see the whole plan, I don’t know.
“Me and him, we talk multiple times a week. That’s not something we even discuss. I still think it’s still a shock for everybody. When the offseason comes … I got to be careful now because it’s tampering.”
As his 36th birthday approaches, Carmelo’s best days on the basketball court are behind him. At this stage of his career, it’s unlikely that he will seek a big deal this summer, and may even be willing to take an extra discount to sign with his hometown Knicks.
Either way, a return to the Garden is very much in play for Carmelo Anthony.
