TeamBall wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Dagger wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Anthony met with Knicks officials in Los Angeles on Friday night. The New York Daily News reported Saturday that Anthony's camp is upset with Knicks President Phil Jackson publicly revealing he would like Anthony not to opt out of his contract by June 23 or, if he does, sign a new deal for less money.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-carmelo-anthony-free-agency-20140614,0,5178435.story?track=rss
Nothing Zen about Phil using the press to pressure Melo. Is there any chance with this purge that he brings in a better player than Melo? What if Melo reacts to this by signing for less in Miami without even a sign and trade? Without nyc and nys income tax he can match the salary he would net at a much lower gross. After this past season and based on what the knick organization has done why should Melo stay? The move to complete the championship contender was getting Tyson to team up with Amare and Melo. How has that worked out? Three gms, and three coaches later and Melo is asked through the press to take less or opt in? Why? Because the future is so bright when he turns thirty one everything is going to be better? Knicks should either kiss his butt or move him. PJax misplayed this one and it could kill his five years in nyc. Talents like Melo are extremely hard to acquire. I could be wrong but I don't expect 74 year old phil looking back and saying that the day he went to the press and said Melo should take less was the moment things changed for the best for the knicks during his tenure.

How has he misplayed this? They can still trade him in a "sign and trade" if they feel he is definitely leaving. You you can't trade players with outstanding player options so they can't trade him now unless Melo opts in.

How has Phil misplayed this??...He tried to pressure Melo in the press to sign for less or not opt out all together...He misread Melo...Melo isn't that kind of guy, like him or not..He holds grudges if you are not honest and upfront with him..On top of that, you hire a rookie coach to pursue your own agenda...Phil wants his own coaching tree and he wants to prove that he and the triangle was much about winning as much as MJ, Pippen, Kobe and Shaq was...Melo is in his prime and don't want to be here to help Phil's in his pursuit to exonerate the knocks against his legacy...Melo wants to win and win now...Phil didn't hire the best candidate, he hired a coach he can control...

Melo himself said he'd take a paycut on ESPN. All Phil did was restate that. If Melo doesn't like it, then why did he say it in the first place?

And what's with your vendetta against Phil? He's barely made any moves yet.

Might be just Media conjecture making it a big deal.