Team No. 1: New York Knicks
Through Carmelo Anthony’s five career stops, he scored the most points with the Denver Nuggets, and is playing with more talent in Portland. But something about the mystique of Madison Square Garden makes a potential Anthony return always within reason.
Higher-ups certainly view it as plausible. SNY’s Ian Begley made the news for predicting that the Knicks could be an option, especially because of the lowered cap, and how that could play into their unwillingness to attack stars with larger cap hits. B/R’s Zach Buckley predicted the same, as well as Portland losing Whiteside.
Anthony’s $2.15 million contract wasn’t fully guaranteed until Dec. 5, a testament to his willingness to sacrifice deep pockets to join a deep roster. Considering the cap restraints of this summer, that number could end up in the same ballpark.
Connections run long in this situation, too, and not just because this is Anthony’s old team. His former agent, Leon Rose is the president of the Knicks, providing the Big Apple with the front office credibility it so sorely lacked.
You think about some of the players Rose has represented — Chris Paul, Joel Embiid and Devin Booker to name a few — and imagine the possibilities he has as far as players he can draw in. It’s unclear of how far out his championship “process” is, but in good conscience, Anthony probably at least thinks about taking a piece of that pie.
The future Hall of Famer has said he wants to retire in Portland. And the Blazers could have the pieces capable of giving him a ceremonious end. But a market of New York’s mythical nature feels unwise to ever count out.