Looks like Carmelo Anthony is playing the “woe is me” card again.
There has been speculation that Melo did not want Jeremy Lin back with the Knicks and that that is one of the reasons the team didn’t match Houston’s offer sheet for the point guard. Speaking from London on Friday, Anthony denied that is the case.
“Believe it or not, I was one of the true supporters of Jeremy Lin,’’ Anthony said, according to the New York Post’s Marc Berman. “Whether it was staying or going to Houston. That’s not something I go out and brag and broadcast about. After he signed with Houston, I talked to him. He texted me, It was a great text. What he sent me meant a lot.
“Money talks, at the end of the day,’’ Anthony said, per the Post. “Houston threw something out there that he couldn’t refuse. The Knicks organization didn’t feel like they had to match it. I’m proud of him, happy for him. Just to see where he came from, see where he started and ending up back in Houston the team that let him go and put us in a position to let us acquire him. He’s back out there in a totally different situation and settlement. I wish him all the luck.’’
Melo termed the contract offer Lin received from the Rockets “ridiculous,” though it wasn’t clear if he was speaking about the entire 3-year $25.1 million deal, or just the “poison pill” third year worth nearly $15 million. He also called Lin the Knicks’ “Rudy” in February, which seems like a backhanded compliment. But Melo ignored all that when he painted himself as the victim.
“It is what it is,” Anthony said, per the New York Daily News. “Anything that happens in New York they blame me. I accept that. I don’t really worry about it to be honest with you.”
Anthony has been busy defending his character many times in recent months. Why? Because the Knicks haven’t met expectations and because he is their top player — the one they gave up so much to get.
Does he deserve all the blame he receives? Probably not. But we do believe he had issues with Mike D’Antoni, which he denies, and that he didn’t mesh with Lin. The two can still like each other, and Melo can still hope the best for Lin, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t want to be teammates with him. Anthony must think we can’t figure that out.
H/T I am a GM
