Feeling Melo

It’s a Melo Situation 

With the hiring of Phil Jackson as the president in March, it is clear the Knicks are on to a new era. However, it is a new era with the same concerns as before, which is whether Carmelo Anthony will sign a long-term deal or leave New York. It seems as if New York has no idea what they want to do because they have had little extension talks with Melo. Also, they never made any efforts to get significant pieces around him during the season. Knicks fans have to be concerned as to what direction the team will choose to go. The Knicks do not have a lottery pick in this year's draft so the chance to build toward the future is on hold. What does the Zen master have in mind? I will try to answer this complex question, but I am sure Phil has no idea what he wants to do.

If the Knicks sign Melo, they will stay squarely in a position to make the playoffs in a lackluster Eastern Conference. The Knicks want to pay Anthony, but still have spare change. In other words, they do not want to give him a max contract. Jackson will more than likely try to clear up more cap space by dumping Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton's contracts. Next, he will look for players that fit his triangle offense or have experience in it to help the transition flow smoothly. Lamar Odom should see significant playing time under rookie head coach Derek Fisher. That is of course if his skills are still there. If Jackson and Fisher struggle with implementing the triangle offense, the Knicks will run a more simplified offense predicated around Anthony's strengths. There are not many players that would seem to intrigue Jackson this offseason besides Jordan Hill and maybe Kyle Lowry. If Jackson learned anything under the late Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak, it is to keep your possibilities to yourself. This means that you Knicks fans should be excited at a possible blockbuster deal. Cough Rajon Rondo cough.

The other option involves letting Anthony walk away and pressing the "reset" button. This would not be a bad idea considering the fact that it is a new regime with Jackson and Fisher at the helm. The problem is finding teams that will take on the contracts of not only Stoudemire and Felton, but also JR Smith and possibly Tyson Chandler. It is very unlikely to get rid of all of these players especially Smith. However, you have to start over somewhere. Getting rid of these players will clear the landscape and allow the Knicks to go after a superstar in next year's offseason or potentially select a player in next year's lottery. Knicks fans are not patient so I do not foresee the Knicks betting it all on some 19 year old. Jackson hardly played rookies as a coach so this route is very unlikely. With or without Melo, Jackson will look to build New York into a championship team overnight. He will clear out enough players to have the money to do so. When we least expect it, Jackson will pull the trigger and control basketball headlines. Heck, he already did so with signing Fisher as his head coach. Strap your seat belts because this ride is barely getting started.