Carmelo Anthony sat down with New York Knicks management on Thursday to discuss the team’s offseason plans, and there was reportedly a “very honest” conversation about where things are heading.
Anthony has made it clear that he wants to have input in New York’s coaching search. One area in which ‘Melo and Phil Jackson could disagree slightly is on the commitment to the triangle offense. Jackson said the system will remain.
“That’s what I was brought here to do — build a system,” he said, via Ian Begley of ESPN.com.
While Anthony has given no indication that he is opposed to the triangle offense, he sounds leery of pushing the system on prospective free agents.
“I don’t think guys want to kind of be re-educated on kind of, the system, and how to play the game of basketball and be in a position that they might not be comfortable and confident in,” Anthony said. “So I think it’s a fine line between going after guys who you feel can actually fit in the system and going after guys who can just play basketball and know how to play the game of basketball.”
In other words, Carmelo doesn’t want free agents turning the Knicks down because they are afraid of or not interested in the triangle offense. Anthony will turn 32 in May, and he doesn’t have many seasons left in him. Without top free agent talent, the Knicks might have to continue rebuilding for several years. Carmelo doesn’t have that kind of time.
Anthony supposedly has a specific coaching candidate in mind, but that guy doesn’t have any experience in the triangle offense. There have also been players Anthony likes who say they don’t want to play in that system. That might be enough for Jackson to ignore them.
If Jackson stays committed to the triangle offense and is unable to make exceptions for top free agents and coaching candidates, Anthony’s frustration may boil over during the offseason.
