Carmelo Anthony says making playoffs won't affect decision to stay or leave Knicks
Although Carmelo Anthony said he supports Raymond Felton, Felton's arrest was just another low point in a season that could affect whether the superstar forward re-signs with the Knicks this summer.
"A lot of things are going to be thought about when that time comes," Anthony said before the Knicks faced the Heat Thursday night. "Off the court, on the court, just a lot of things are going to have to be put all on the table."
The Knicks' blowout loss to the Heat dropped them to 21-37 and 51/2 games out of the last playoff spot in the East.
But just making the postseason -- and the way the Knicks have been playing, that is a long shot -- might not be enough to keep Anthony, who said, "Everything that can go wrong for us is going wrong."
Anthony has said he wants to meet with Knicks officials after the season and see what their plan is about building a team that can consistently contend.
"I don't think about it like that, that I want to make the playoffs before I make that decision," Anthony said. "That decision is going to happen regardless. That time is going to come. Me making the playoffs is something that I want to do, something that I never experienced before, not making the playoffs. That's a different motivation.
"Coming into this season, we felt like we could make the playoffs and we could do something. Unfortunately, we're in this situation we're in right now, fighting for our lives, fighting for a playoff spot. But us making the playoffs and then that decision don't even have anything to do with it."
Anthony said during All-Star weekend that he still wants to retire a Knick and would be willing to take less than a maximum contract if it helps the team sign other free agents. That means he also would be willing to take less to go elsewhere, and this week he doesn't sound as convinced about his future as a Knick.
The Bulls will have cap space this summer and have a better roster than the Knicks. You can't rule out Miami and a chance for Anthony to play with his good friends LeBron James and Dwyane Wade if everyone is willing to take less money.
After scoring 44 points Tuesday in a loss to the Mavericks, Anthony said, "You kind of ask yourself is it worth it?''
He was referring to how much he is scoring as the Knicks continue to find ways to lose. He had 42, 44, 35 and 44 in the four games before last night and the Knicks lost three of them.
"He's been so solid this season for our ballclub and I don't think that's going to ever change, regardless who's around him and where he plays,'' Mike Woodson said. "I just wish our season would have been better.''
Some of the problems can be attributed to injuries to key players. Anthony and Tim Hardaway Jr. are the only regulars not to miss significant time, but there have been other issues. J.R. Smith was suspended the first five games for failing a drug test. The NBA also fined Smith for making threatening tweets and for untying opponents' sneakers.
Felton's arrest on felony gun charges was the latest incident in a memorably bad season.
"You sit back and you try to -- the little time you get to yourself, you try to reflect on everything,'' Anthony said. "But it's hard to reflect on it. At this point we're rolling with the punches. I was laughing with somebody, just saying Murphy's Law. Everything that can go wrong for us is going wrong at this point.
"With all that said, we've still got to play basketball. Ray's situation is his situation. He's dealing with that. We support him. But as far as this goes, we've got to play basketball.''
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