Carmelo Anthony is reaching a turning point in his career as he approaches free agency after this season. The New York Knicks are a disaster, as they struggle to even make the playoffs in the dismal eastern conference. With Amar’e Stoudemire’s contract still on the books for another season, their isn’t much the front office can do to help get ‘Melo the kind of help that he needs to win consistently.
Which is why everybody is so interested in what Carmelo will decide to do this summer. I personally think he should take his talents to Chicago, but both Carmelo and his wife have stated before that he loves playing and living in New York. His former college coach Jim Boeheim weighed in on the situation recently, and offered a very blunt and honest opinion.
Boeheim, Anthony’s coach for one season at Syracuse and as an assistant on the U.S. National Team, said on ESPN Radio Wednesday that Anthony should play for a team that can win it all. “The problem in the NBA, you’re judged on winning championships,” Boeheim said. “He’s got to try to go and play where they can win a championship or else he’s going to be a failure. That’s the bottom line.”
Carmelo is turning 30 very soon so this will more than likely be the last max contract he signs in his career. Could he be convinced to take a little less to go join a team with a much better shot at a NBA title? I’m not sure. I never blame anybody for taking the money and it’s no secret the Knicks can offer Carmelo the most money.
Ultimately it’ll be interesting to see what he decides to do.