New York Knicks president Phil Jackson’s public campaign to pressure Carmelo Anthony into waiving his no-trade clause is working to harden Anthony’s resolve to remain with the franchise, league sources told The Vertical.

“[Jackson’s] underestimating ‘Melo’s willingness to stay,” a source familiar with Anthony’s thinking told The Vertical.

Jackson used his largely dormant Twitter account Tuesday to publicly praise a published report critical of Anthony’s evolution as a winning player. In reference to a Kevin Ding column on Bleacher Report, Jackson wrote, “Bleacher’s Ding almost rings the bell, but I learned you don’t change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.”

Jackson was referring to a journeyman player, Michael Graham, whom he coached in the Continental Basketball Association. Anthony is a nine-time NBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist.

As Jackson’s passive-aggressive assault on Anthony has played out, the Knicks have spiraled to a 22-31 record, 12th in the Eastern Conference.

Anthony has privately told teammates, too: He refuses to let Jackson run him out of the Knicks. The Knicks have contacted three teams – the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers – about possible Anthony trades. The Clippers and Cavaliers have interest, but only in cobbling together packages that include role players, league sources told The Vertical.

Anthony has privately indicated an interest in listening to trades to those three teams, but the Knicks have been unable to find a trade package that they’re willing to accept, sources said. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 23.

Boston’s shown minimal interest in Anthony, preferring to continue its pursuit of persuading Chicago (Jimmy Butler) and Indiana (Paul George) to engage in trade talks that involve two younger, more well-rounded stars.

There was an expectation around the NBA that Knicks management would start to search elsewhere for trade possibilities and bring Anthony different scenarios for his approval, but that process doesn’t appear to have begun, league sources said.

Jackson has resisted a transparent approach of simply meeting with Anthony and his representative and telling them that the organization prefers to trade him and wants to work to find an agreeable solution. That approach might have convinced Anthony to be more open to accepting a trade, league sources said, but Jackson’s insistence on public over private communication has severely damaged the relationship – likely beyond repair.

Anthony has tried to maintain a focus on turning around the Knicks and getting them back to the playoffs. All along, he has said that his hope was to win in New York – not leave to try elsewhere.

Anthony’s contract guarantees him $24.5 million this season and $26.2 million in 2017-18, and he holds a $30 million player option for 2018-19. Plus, the Knicks must pay Anthony a $9.5 million bonus if he is traded.

CrushAlot wrote:

Uptown wrote:Good for Melo! There is a right way to do things and Phils way is BS. We thought phil would bring a certain level of class and professionalism that this organization desperately needed. Instead, phil has turned out to be another clown in the msg circus. I hope phil shows up and they boo the hell out of him....

This. How can you make the Knicks into laughingstocks and the poster team for dysfunction again when you brought into change the culture.

MELO and ROSE made this a laughingstock!!! This ain't about Phil. This is about SELFISH STAR players not buying into Team ball and leading a team to wins. Melo and Rose are the 2 biggest culprits and making the most money. You can't absolve them of the blame for this team not playing well. They're the top talents with the experience and know how. So yes Phil is a JERK, but he's not losing the games. Let's try and keep things in perspective. Melo and Rose have let the team down. No winning team has their top 2 players PLAY NO D and play SELFISH on offense. Just doesn't happen.

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Uptown wrote:Good for Melo! There is a right way to do things and Phils way is BS. We thought phil would bring a certain level of class and professionalism that this organization desperately needed. Instead, phil has turned out to be another clown in the msg circus. I hope phil shows up and they boo the hell out of him....

This. How can you make the Knicks into laughingstocks and the poster team for dysfunction again when you brought into change the culture.

MELO and ROSE made this a laughingstock!!! This ain't about Phil. This is about SELFISH STAR players not buying into Team ball and leading a team to wins. Melo and Rose are the 2 biggest culprits and making the most money. You can't absolve them of the blame for this team not playing well. They're the top talents with the experience and know how. So yes Phil is a JERK, but he's not losing the games. Let's try and keep things in perspective. Melo and Rose have let the team down. No winning team has their top 2 players PLAY NO D and play SELFISH on offense. Just doesn't happen.

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Uptown wrote:Good for Melo! There is a right way to do things and Phils way is BS. We thought phil would bring a certain level of class and professionalism that this organization desperately needed. Instead, phil has turned out to be another clown in the msg circus. I hope phil shows up and they boo the hell out of him....

This. How can you make the Knicks into laughingstocks and the poster team for dysfunction again when you brought into change the culture.

MELO and ROSE made this a laughingstock!!! This ain't about Phil. This is about SELFISH STAR players not buying into Team ball and leading a team to wins. Melo and Rose are the 2 biggest culprits and making the most money. You can't absolve them of the blame for this team not playing well. They're the top talents with the experience and know how. So yes Phil is a JERK, but he's not losing the games. Let's try and keep things in perspective. Melo and Rose have let the team down. No winning team has their top 2 players PLAY NO D and play SELFISH on offense. Just doesn't happen.

Phil didn't even show up at Rose's press conference. He continues to disappoint. He degrades the value of the guy he is trying to trade and makes the Knicks look dysfunctional again. The guy sucks. Also, he brought Rose in and gave Melo the ntc and the trade kicker.

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Uptown wrote:Good for Melo! There is a right way to do things and Phils way is BS. We thought phil would bring a certain level of class and professionalism that this organization desperately needed. Instead, phil has turned out to be another clown in the msg circus. I hope phil shows up and they boo the hell out of him....

This. How can you make the Knicks into laughingstocks and the poster team for dysfunction again when you brought into change the culture.

MELO and ROSE made this a laughingstock!!! This ain't about Phil. This is about SELFISH STAR players not buying into Team ball and leading a team to wins. Melo and Rose are the 2 biggest culprits and making the most money. You can't absolve them of the blame for this team not playing well. They're the top talents with the experience and know how. So yes Phil is a JERK, but he's not losing the games. Let's try and keep things in perspective. Melo and Rose have let the team down. No winning team has their top 2 players PLAY NO D and play SELFISH on offense. Just doesn't happen.

Phil didn't even show up at Rose's press conference. He continues to disappoint. He degrades the value of the guy he is trying to trade and makes the Knicks look dysfunctional again. The guy sucks. Also, he brought Rose in and gave Melo the ntc and the trade kicker.

This...phil had a chance to move on from Melo instead, he not only re-signs him but compounds the problem with the NTC! phils actions are totally unfair because Melo has to answer for phils tweets before and after ever game. Phil is quiet, while Horny, Melo and the rest of the knicks have to clean up his mess...this is total BS! Get this clown outta here!

When in his career as a Knick has he done something like that? When the team needed him to play 4 he whined and wanted to go back to 3.

I see no reason why he would accept them. All I've ever heard is "I'd think about it".

Dude wants to be the man in NY regardless of what else is going on. All he cares about is being in NY. Winning isn't important. Sure he would like to win. It's not the driving force.

So fitting that NY media and a good portion of fans are siding with the aging declining star who is playing stupid selfish losing basketball over the one person who actually knows what winning championships entails. Jackson may be an average executive at best but he knows what it takes to win. He sees Melo for who he is. The fact that so many media and fans do not is fitting. It's exactly why we have been the crappy mediocre franchise for years. Get your Pom Poms out for Melo. Draft Mudiay or Winslow. Hate on drafting the Euro. Oops. Guess maybe Phil knows a thing or two.

nyknickzingis wrote:I'm just curious
Why is everyone so sure Melo would have accepted a trade if they came up and asked him nicely.

When in his career as a Knick has he done something like that? When the team needed him to play 4 he whined and wanted to go back to 3.

I see no reason why he would accept them. All I've ever heard is "I'd think about it".

Dude wants to be the man in NY regardless of what else is going on. All he cares about is being in NY. Winning isn't important. Sure he would like to win. It's not the driving force.

So fitting that NY media and a good portion of fans are siding with the aging declining star who is playing stupid selfish losing basketball over the one person who actually knows what winning championships entails. Jackson may be an average executive at best but he knows what it takes to win. He sees Melo for who he is. The fact that so many media and fans do not is fitting. It's exactly why we have been the crappy mediocre franchise for years. Get your Pom Poms out for Melo. Draft Mudiay or Winslow. Hate on drafting the Euro. Oops. Guess maybe Phil knows a thing or two.

You said it man!!! Just gotta ignore the nonsense and hope Dolan stays out of this and lets Phil rebuild around KP. If Melo refuses to accept a trade so be it. Just keep working to rebuild this roster.

Melo has no one else to blame. He's the leader of the team and he isn't insisting Rose and others play hard. Melo and Rose both need to step up or step off!!!

nyknickzingis wrote:I'm just curious
Why is everyone so sure Melo would have accepted a trade if they came up and asked him nicely.

When in his career as a Knick has he done something like that? When the team needed him to play 4 he whined and wanted to go back to 3.

I see no reason why he would accept them. All I've ever heard is "I'd think about it".

Dude wants to be the man in NY regardless of what else is going on. All he cares about is being in NY. Winning isn't important. Sure he would like to win. It's not the driving force.

So fitting that NY media and a good portion of fans are siding with the aging declining star who is playing stupid selfish losing basketball over the one person who actually knows what winning championships entails. Jackson may be an average executive at best but he knows what it takes to win. He sees Melo for who he is. The fact that so many media and fans do not is fitting. It's exactly why we have been the crappy mediocre franchise for years. Get your Pom Poms out for Melo. Draft Mudiay or Winslow. Hate on drafting the Euro. Oops. Guess maybe Phil knows a thing or two.

HofstraBBall wrote:

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Uptown wrote:Good for Melo! There is a right way to do things and Phils way is BS. We thought phil would bring a certain level of class and professionalism that this organization desperately needed. Instead, phil has turned out to be another clown in the msg circus. I hope phil shows up and they boo the hell out of him....

This. How can you make the Knicks into laughingstocks and the poster team for dysfunction again when you brought into change the culture.

MELO and ROSE made this a laughingstock!!! This ain't about Phil. This is about SELFISH STAR players not buying into Team ball and leading a team to wins. Melo and Rose are the 2 biggest culprits and making the most money. You can't absolve them of the blame for this team not playing well. They're the top talents with the experience and know how. So yes Phil is a JERK, but he's not losing the games. Let's try and keep things in perspective. Melo and Rose have let the team down. No winning team has their top 2 players PLAY NO D and play SELFISH on offense. Just doesn't happen.

Once again putting Melo and Rose in the same light. Rose is Phil's mistake not Melo. Guess your not going to stop. How did Melo play last year? What has changed? Answer: Lousy additions of Rose and Noah! And oh yes......crazy Phil's sabotage. And you better check the papers, news and public opinion....Phil is the one making us a laughingstock.

Rose and Melo as the source of Knicks problems is fake news...