Carmelo Anthony wants to win and he wants to do it on his own terms, on the city he likes to call home.
Not too many major free agents can still be lured by the glamour of the Big Apple and it seems like Carmelo Anthony may be the last, at least in the near future.
Melo has a no-trade clause, so despite all the trade rumors and even recent predictions that he would be traded, no transaction can be made without Melo's approval and it looks like he won't budge.
The former NBA scoring champion has taken it upon himself to improve the roster around him. He has begun recruiting for the team and he has targeted fellow Oak Hill Academy alum Rajon Rondo according to Marc Berman of the NY Post.
Firstly, Anthony called for a bigger role in the recruitment process as he wants in on free agent meetings: "Put me at the head of the table and let's go to work." He said. "Put me in the board room.''
Then, he locked on Rondo who is currently the league leader in assists. The former Boston Celtic playmaker will become a free agent at the end of the season.
"I don't want to be tampering - I've heard he(Rondo) said he wouldn't thrive in a system like this," Anthony said. "I think he'd be perfect in a system like this. A system like this fits a guy like that. To have the ball in their hands and be able to run the offense, I think it fits well. I don't know who's telling him he don't fit."
To recall, these were Rondo's comments to Ian Begley of ESPN when he was asked about signing with the Knicks. "The triangle's not really a good look for me, I don't think."
Melo heard Rondo's comments and he addressed them in his recruiting pitch.
"It is a misconception about that," Anthony said. "Some of our keys of offense is penetration, getting in the paint, pushing the pace, transition creating in the paint for bigs. A point guard would love that. It's a perfect opportunity."
Rondo has been through trying times the past two seasons. When the Boston Celtics finally traded him to the Dallas Mavericks, he did not get along with veteran coach Rick Carlisle and it led to Rondo being overlooked by teams in free agency (the Knicks being one of those).
It was the hapless Sacramento Kings who were passed on by free agents like Tobias Harris and Wesley Matthews who took a risk, and Rondo was open that he will sign a one-year pact to try free agency again the following year.
Despite being the league-leader of a major category, there are still questions on whether Rondo is still "elite" and an open vote of confidence from Melo is something he should probably appreciate.