Carmelo Anthony in Limbo

We all know what the Knicks need to do to become a better basketball team, so I won't keep repeating it. Instead, I'll talk about Jeremy Lin, whom they let go, leading the Hornets and beating the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers.

See? Could've, would've, should've.

Phil says: “Carmelo has a no-trade clause.”

To me, that spells buyer's remorse. It is like saying, "I just bought this mansion, and now I am stuck with the mortgage and upkeep."

"Carmelo Anthony in Limbo'...really?....its where all his teammates are when he is on the court.

What's done is done.

Dolan traded his up and coming team and draft choices for 'Melo.

For reasons that only Jackson knows, he resigned 'Melo.

Earlier in the season the Knicks were playing decent ball. But perhaps 'Melo's knee wasn't bothering him as much as it is now. Who knows?

What is odd is that injuries notwithstanding, "Melo still wanted and wants to play in two meaningless exhibition games rather than rest his troubling knee. This and last year's All Star game. Doesn't management have a say in that? And what does that say about 'Melo's commitment to the Knicks, the guys that are signing his pay checks?

The inference in Jackson's comments about 'Melo was that Dolan "encouraged" Jackson in the strongest possible terms to resign 'Melo. He did.

If Jackson is a creative executive he will find ways to make the Knicks better. This season.

After all, what's done is done.

If the reports are true that Jackson is considering a return to Los Angeles, then he should immediately resign (or be fired by Dolan, or Carmelo) to avoid a real conflict of interest with his current employer, the New York Knicks. What’s to prevent Jackson from deciding that Jeff Van Gundy is the best coach available, but then deciding not to hire Van Gundy for the Knicks and to reach out to Van Gundy after Jackson joins the Lakers so that Van Gundy (the best coach available) can coach the Lakers and not the Knicks? What kind of organization would tolerate such potentially divided interests from its President?

So many things wrong with the Knicks... Carmelo was never a leader, he's more the "give me the ball 50 times per game and I'll shoot everytime" guy. Impossible to build a winning team around him, as the Nuggets learned the hard way. Now he plays the part of "well, we need to trust Phil, as there's no other option". Yeah, that's from a guy who was more interested in a huge paycheck in the last contract and will remain attached to a messed up structure.

But Jackson has also being contributing to the Knicks' misfortune: he seems to be more worried about his legacy (the Triangle System) than in turning things around. Hiring Fisher was kind of putting a sidekick to be the coach and wanting to continue running things on court. He should have known better. And, considering his last interview, he'll continue to follow this road to perdition. NYK needs someone to clean up the mess, but what Jackson wants is an acolyte as a coach, so he can continue to pull the strings. It's hard to say that, but my admiration for Phil is dropping fast.

Every time the Knick's play Denver "the trade" comes in full view. Seeing Gallinari playing as well as he is and imagining what he'd be doing along with those first round picks given up to get Melo fills me with remorse.
Trading for Melo was a huge blunder attributed to James Dolan through the neutered hands of Donnie Walsh. But resigning Melo for the "Max" or there about is on Phil. Getting locked in to an aging player who's more "a leader" by pay scale vs performance will prove to be another HUGE Knick's blunder.

AND THE DYSFUNCTION ROLLS ON...!!!

Look, I like humor as much as the next person. So I really enjoy listening to Phil Jackson philosophize. Man, that guy is good for a laugh.

Talk about a "west coast offense"...How long before Luke Walton is sitting in the seat that Kurt Rambis sat in for the first time last night?

Isn't all this getting kind of old? Jackson's philosophizing, Carmelo's delusions, etc.? You'd have to be nuts to want to play or coach there.

When will the Knicks ever learn? Hint: ownership that consistently gets graded F starts with a D (and that's grade inflation!).

Carmelo Anthony in Limbo
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How about this headline instead: Knicks solo prima donna in Limbo!

It's hard to know about this injury. Is it going to keep bothering Mr Melo and limiting him to basically half a season? If so then maybe they should trade him. But it would be a shame if that were not the case because for the first time as a Knick he has other reliable scorers. He can't be constantly double and triple teamed. This team as it stands should be doing better. Maybe Rambis can get them together, make the right moves on the court. I wouldn't write this season off just yet.

From these comments, the people know that Carmelo will never lead the Knicks to the promised land. Did we ever see Michael or Kobe take days off because of tiredness or soreness? They were warriors which is an ingredient of leadership. Melo had to play these last two games or he would have been crucified if he only rested to play in the All Star Game. With Melo, its always all about him and what he thinks is his "brand". What company would pay for his endorsements? Certainly not one trading for the NY market. I understand why Phil resigned him - Dolan and Phil's own ideology that you need a go to guy. But it was a mistake. And yes this is a very veteran starting five going out there right now - no one will get better other than KP.
So we have to "hope" again for free agency and the 2018 draft! Andrea Bargnani really hurt this team, but for him they would have traded that choice (2016) for Kyle Lowry two years ago. Phil has no responsibility for that disaster.
Watch Melo on the bench - he's all about "I'm the star" come over opponents, co players, fans and laugh and pay respect to me...the star. The guy's talents are like Bob McAdoo (no disrespect intended), but scoring and scoring alone is not what bball is about. He won a championship around 35 as a fifth wheel substitute player on a great team. Melo can only hope for same

Knick losses get *way* more NYT "ink" than concurrent Nets wins. Let's see some balanced journalism! As for Anthony, Jackson has been trying to edge him out for a long time while trying to appear not to. Whether Anthony stays or goes, and whether Jackson manages to convert the entire MTA to Triangle Subway Schedules ("Offensively On Time!") or not, as long as Dolan keeps treating the Knicks as a tourist cash cow for MSG rather than as an actual team, nothing with change. Too bad Fisher got caught up in Dolan's charade.

C'mon. Melo and his agent can't be THAT thick? Phil's sending a very clear message without publicly embarrassing the guy. The Knicks need a No. 1 pick and a couple more decent bodies. The only way they get that is by trading their top player. Meanwhile, Melo is relatively old for a bball player and he wants to be with a contender - now, not 3 or 4 years from now. Melo should do the smart thing and inform his agent to reach out to Jackson to quietly try and do a deal. It would be the best for all sides.

Give Melo some credit. He's not a coach killer. He's a team killer.

The only time Anthony has ever made a difference was when he was a freshman and led Syracuse to the championship. Since coming to the NBA, Anthony has been a high scoring, self-absorbed, ball hogging loser.

"Carmelo’s a leader,” Jackson said. “We understand that."

Really? REALLY? But "leading" where?
The race to the bottom (of the NBA) continues for the Knicks, and Jackson STILL doesn't get it?

"“You have to continue to put your trust into Phil,” Anthony said. “I mean, at this point, what could you do? You can’t shy away from it. You can’t go against it. So for me, I have to trust him. I decided to stay here. I made that decision to trust in the Knicks and trust in Phil.”"

Melo is smarter than everyone else as he again makes himself most important, the reluctant player, 'So I HAVE to? Ok but I don't want to but I HAVE to.

It is because he is smarter than everyone else that he has all those rings. Tick tick time passes. Tick tick tick.