The New York Knicks will always face uncertainty with Carmelo Anthony until they become a winning team. The question is, did the offseason take them any closer to that goal?
The future of Carmelo Anthony seems to hinge on the answer to that question. While he is in the second year of a five year max extension, it would not be beyond him to ask for a trade.
That's exactly what NBA legend Walt "Clyde" Frazier has mentioned in a recent interview with ESPN where he mentioned:
"I'm sure Melo wasn't happy. His future is now. You know, he's not getting younger. This is going to be a pivotal season for him to see really how he fits into the Knick plans and how this is going to go from here."
A player's legacy is fast becoming just as important as the amount on the paycheck. Being on a winning team can now earn more money as well and being in the Big Apple does not matter as much on its own.
Is Carmelo Anthony starting to realize this a year too late? He was a top free agent last year and had better chances to win in teams like the Chicago Bulls or the Houston Rockets but he chose to stick it out with New York.
Frazier faces the big question for the Knicks: "Will he ask out, you know what I mean, if he sees that this is not happening? Because right now the Knicks, [it's] going to be tough to make the playoffs. They are a few years away and Melo knows that his days are numbered, so stay tuned."
Melo put his faith on Phil Jackson's ability to attract big name free agents, but that did not materialize. But Bleacher Report contends that the Zen Master is making the right moves in spite of that. They note that the Knicks had a "great draft" with Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant. There are also new additions like Robin Lopez and Arron Afflalo. The two are not game-changing stars, but they are veteran contributors that the Knicks didn't have last season.
But will it be enough to bring them to the playoffs? And if not, will Carmelo force his way out of the team? Anthony forced his way to get to the Big Apple when he was in Denver, so it's not beyond him to force his way out.