Knicks President Phil Jackson Says Carmelo Anthony ‘Would Be Better Off Somewhere Else’

There is clearly no love lost between New York Knicks president Phil Jackson and superstar forward Carmelo Anthony. The relationship between the two got even edgier on Friday when Jackson basically showed Anthony the door in New York.

Following exit interviews with Knicks players, Jackson spoke to the media and more or less suggested a future without Anthony in New York, via Ian Begley of ESPN:

“We’ve not been able to win with [Anthony] on the court at this time,” Jackson said. “I think the direction with our team is that he’s a player that would be better off somewhere else and using his talent somewhere where he can win or chase that championship.”

It is widely known that the Knicks tried and failed to send Anthony elsewhere before the NBA trade deadline in February. Anthony was linked to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Cleveland Cavaliers with the Knicks motivated to move him, but no deal came to fruition making the situation in New York awkward, to say the least.

With Jackson intent on trading the face of the franchise, things will get interesting this summer as Anthony has to waive his no-trade clause to make a deal happen while the front office in New York has to find a taker for his large contract. Anthony is owed $26.2 million next season and has a player option for $27.9 million the season after that.

Needless to say, this is not an easy contract to move for a player that is no longer considered elite nor someone that fits in well with other star players. Although it won’t be easy, the Knicks brass will do what they can to make a deal to send him elsewhere.