Carmelo Anthony Wants To Be ‘Head Of The Table’ In Knicks’ Free Agent Meeting

USA Today

The New York Knicks appear to be headed for another disappointing end to an NBA season. New York got off to an impressive start to this year after drafting arguably the biggest surprise in the NBA Draft in Kristaps Porzingis. The Knicks seemed to be on the upswing until things began to fall apart over the past few months.

With the Knicks likely missing the NBA playoffs yet again, the storied franchise will look to make a splash in free agency this summer. Although it may be a stretch for the Knicks to land a superstar like Kevin Durant, New York has a shot to improve drastically by filling out the roster around star forward Carmelo Anthony.

Apparently, Anthony isn’t happy with the way things have turned out since he re-signed with the team a few years ago. Anthony wants to help control the fate of the Knicks by being in attendance for free-agent pitch meetings this summer via ESPN:

Last summer, Carmelo Anthony wasn’t present for any of the New York Knicks’ face-to-face meetings with free agents. That’s going to change this summer.

“Put me at the head of the table, and let’s go to work,” Anthony told reporters after the Knicks’ practice Monday in Denver.

As a result of the emergence of Porzingis, the future is potentially bright in New York with the team bound to start building around the international import rather than Anthony. It isn’t beyond the realm of possibility that the Knicks explore trading Anthony to a team he’d like to go. Anthony has a no-trade clause and can control his fate if New York wants to part ways.

Outside of Durant and LeBron James (player option), the top-tier free agents available could help the Knicks turn the corner. The best potential free agents this summer include DeMar DeRozan, Pau Gasol, Andre Drummond, Al Horford, Bradley Beal, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Mike Conley, Hassan Whiteside, Harrison Barnes, and Rajon Rondo.