Anthony plans to opt out of the final year of his contract and test free agency this summer. Jackson has said he'd like to re-sign Anthony but added recently that he'd prefer Anthony take a pay cut to remain with the Knicks.

Jackson is also conducting a search for the Knicks' next coach, and TNT broadcaster Steve Kerr has emerged as a favorite. ESPN.com reported Tuesday the Knicks are trying to complete a deal with Kerr that would install him as coach after the first round of the playoffs, according to sources with knowledge of the talks.

Photos of the dinner meeting surfaced on the Internet late Tuesday, and a source confirmed Wednesday that the meeting took place.

Jackson talked with Anthony about his relationship with Kerr and Kerr's background, the source said. Part of Anthony's decision in free agency will presumably be based on who is coaching the Knicks.

Anthony suggested in February that he would consider taking a pay cut to remain with the Knicks if it helped the team attract other free agents. Last week, Jackson said he hopes the All-Star forward is "true to his word."

It is unclear if that topic was broached at Tuesday's meeting.

"I think [there is] a precedent that's been set," Jackson said last week, referring to stars taking less money to join or remain with contending teams. "Because the way things have been structured now financially for teams is that it's really hard to have one or two top stars or max players, and to put together a team with enough talent, you've got to have people making sacrifices financially.

"So we hope that Carmelo is true to his word, and we understand what it's going to take, and we will present that to him at that time."

Anthony can sign a maximum five-year, $129 million contract if he stays with the Knicks. He can sign a maximum four-year, $95.8 million with any other team.

The Bulls, Rockets, Clippers and Lakers are expected to be among a group of teams that will show interest in Anthony this summer.

Last week, Jackson was asked if he would consider it a disaster if Anthony did not re-sign after all that the Knicks gave up to acquire him in 2011. New York traded four rotation players and two first-round picks to land Anthony in a three-team trade.

"I'm all about moving forward," Jackson said. "Just deal with what is and move forward. If it's in the cards, man are we fortunate. If it's not in the cards, man are we fortunate. We're going forward anyway."

franco12 wrote:I wonder if this is like the dinner Lin and Woody had back when Lin was a FA.

Well Lin ain't Melo and Woody ain't Phil...

I'm glad they talked and I hope Melo stays, but I have a feeling he's gonna go. Melo could go to a team that is setup for success right now as opposed to NY where we will be totally rebuilding a year from now. Phil can't guarantee what the roster will be in the future since we'll be starting over in 2015. That fact gives other teams an advantage in convincing Melo they have better situations. I think this ends in a trade.

sealy wrote:If Melo were to resign and Jackson made some minor tweaking to the roster, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them become a competitive team next year.

of course they can. There is no reason why their roster can't be better than it was 2 years ago. I think that this is what Phil sells Melo.

"You won 54 games with that crappy group of chuckers and that questionable coach. Now we will add some efficient players a coach who I will coach and a system that is proven to win"

Checkmate.

Swishfm3 wrote:Melo is staying for 20mil a year...you heard it here first.

first.

Most people predict about 20 mil.

nixluva wrote:

franco12 wrote:I wonder if this is like the dinner Lin and Woody had back when Lin was a FA.

Well Lin ain't Melo and Woody ain't Phil...

I'm glad they talked and I hope Melo stays, but I have a feeling he's gonna go. Melo could go to a team that is setup for success right now as opposed to NY where we will be totally rebuilding a year from now. Phil can't guarantee what the roster will be in the future since we'll be starting over in 2015. That fact gives other teams an advantage in convincing Melo they have better situations. I think this ends in a trade.

Papabear Says

Melo can just walk. He does not have to do the knick a favor in doing a trade after what he went through this year. He played his heart out and he still get knocked. If I was him I would just walk and don't look back. Melo is damned if he do and damned if he don't.

mreinman wrote:

sealy wrote:If Melo were to resign and Jackson made some minor tweaking to the roster, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them become a competitive team next year.

of course they can. There is no reason why their roster can't be better than it was 2 years ago. I think that this is what Phil sells Melo.

"You won 54 games with that crappy group of chuckers and that questionable coach. Now we will add some efficient players a coach who I will coach and a system that is proven to win"

Checkmate.

I'm pretty sure Phil can be quite convincing. It's basically what he's known best for. His powers of persuasion are pretty legendary. I just don't like the idea that other teams will get a crack at Melo too. Sometimes that new situation just looks better. I think a lot is going to come from what Phil does with the coaching staff and what he has in the plans for Melo. What has he told Melo about how he'll be used and what kind of team he plans on putting around him. How Phil thinks the Triangle can help Melo's game etc.

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:

sealy wrote:If Melo were to resign and Jackson made some minor tweaking to the roster, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them become a competitive team next year.

of course they can. There is no reason why their roster can't be better than it was 2 years ago. I think that this is what Phil sells Melo.

"You won 54 games with that crappy group of chuckers and that questionable coach. Now we will add some efficient players a coach who I will coach and a system that is proven to win"

Checkmate.

I'm pretty sure Phil can be quite convincing. It's basically what he's known best for. His powers of persuasion are pretty legendary. I just don't like the idea that other teams will get a crack at Melo too. Sometimes that new situation just looks better. I think a lot is going to come from what Phil does with the coaching staff and what he has in the plans for Melo. What has he told Melo about how he'll be used and what kind of team he plans on putting around him. How Phil thinks the Triangle can help Melo's game etc.

He probably said to him

"I made people think that chucking kobe is one of the best players of all time. I can do magic"

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:

sealy wrote:If Melo were to resign and Jackson made some minor tweaking to the roster, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them become a competitive team next year.

of course they can. There is no reason why their roster can't be better than it was 2 years ago. I think that this is what Phil sells Melo.

"You won 54 games with that crappy group of chuckers and that questionable coach. Now we will add some efficient players a coach who I will coach and a system that is proven to win"

Checkmate.

I'm pretty sure Phil can be quite convincing. It's basically what he's known best for. His powers of persuasion are pretty legendary. I just don't like the idea that other teams will get a crack at Melo too. Sometimes that new situation just looks better. I think a lot is going to come from what Phil does with the coaching staff and what he has in the plans for Melo. What has he told Melo about how he'll be used and what kind of team he plans on putting around him. How Phil thinks the Triangle can help Melo's game etc.

Papabear Says

Mutual respect by both parties might work. But if Phil come off arrogant Melo will walk.