Carmelo Anthony Free Agency: New York Knicks President Leon Rose interested in bringing Melo back to the Big Apple.
Advertisement
Ever since his appointment in March, Leon Rose has been quite vocal about his interest in bringing Carmelo Anthony back to the Knicks. Rose and Melo have history between them, as Rose used to serve as Anthony’s agent, before his appointment as the Knicks President. Rose was the one who helped Carmelo land his latest role, as a forward for the Blazers.
Anthony also has history with the newly appointed head coach of the Knicks, Tim Thibodeau. He was lobbying for Thibodeau to take over as head coach back in 2014 as well. The newly hired assistant coach Woodson led Carmelo to have his best two-way season, back in 2012-13.
While there may be a lot of history that Carmelo shares with New York and the current office, it doesn’t look like Melo wants to go back to New York. After the Lakers ended the season for the Blazers, beating them 4-1 in the first-round playoff series, Melo spoke in the press conference and appreciated Portland and hopes he could call Portland home.
“I pray that it can be Portland, I think I found a home in Portland”
Carmelo Anthony leaving no doubt that he wants to play again next season and he wants it to be with the Trail Blazers
#RipCity pic.twitter.com/0zxQg4oHW5
— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) August 30, 2020
Melo back in New York?
The Knicks back office, especially their President Leon Rose seemed very eager to make this happen back when he took the office in March. A lot of things have changed since then. The NBA is taking place in a secure bubble, with zero live audiences. Portland made it to the Playoffs, at the 8th seed, Lakers beat Portland 4-1 in the first round.
With everything that happened, we got clarity on one thing. Melo loves the Blazers and they love him right back. Damian Lillard seems to have seconded Carmelo’s hope of playing for the Blazers next season.
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) August 30, 2020
CJ McCullom, coach Terry Sttots and the rest of the team were all very appreciative of Melo and the coach added that he was “honored to have been able to coach him.”
Will Blazers sign Melo back?
If the Blazers weren’t riddled with injuries, who knows how the season may have turned out. Even if we talk about just the playoffs, if the Blazers did not lose starting forward Zach Collins, have CJ McCullom playing with a fractured back, or Dame Dolla playing with a dislocated left thumb, and then a knee sprain later, they would have given the Lakers a run for their money. Melo had a very important part in them being able to do.
Looking at all the team has achieved with Melo supporting the star backcourt duo, they should sign him back for the next season or more.
