When the New York Knicks traded JR Smith to the Cavaliers in a three team deal earlier this month, Smith said that the mood at MSG was tense and that people were constantly “walking on eggshells”.
The Knicks biggest star backed up Smith’s sentiments that players were thrown off by the arrival of team president Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher.
“I’ve heard him say that before in conversations we’ve had,” Anthony said. “I think anytime something is new, something is trying to be incorporated, everybody is trying to do the right thing, so it can be a tense situation or you can feel like you’re walking on eggshells because you don’t want to do the wrong thing.
“You want to impress the coaches. You want to impress the front office. You want to impress your teammates and try to do the right thing. So if that’s where he’s coming from, from that standpoint I agree with him.”
Anthony would not go as far to say that the triangle was too difficult, but he did acknowledge the rise of Smith’s play in Cleveland.
“He looks like he’s settling in very well,” Anthony said. “I’m actually happy for him. It’s a change of environment for him, new thought process, new mindset. Mentally it looks like he has some clarity right now. I believe LeBron [James] will help him make that adjustment that much better.”