Carmelo Anthony will not be able to avoid the free agency questions for the entire upcoming NBA season. However, the New York Knicks star can avoid answering them. The free-agent-to-be made headlines after saying he fully intends on testing out free agency in the summer of 2014. Head coach Mike Woodson understands Anthony's position in all of this, but he is telling his star forward to stop talking.
Anthony told the New York Observer that he wants to be a free agent. After previously saying he will not discuss his future plans for the entire season, the statement made headlines throughout the basketball world. While saying that he intends to talk to other teams, he is not ruling out a return to the Knicks.
"It's definitely an opportunity that I'm willing to explore and experience," Anthony said. "That not whatsoever means that I'm not coming back to New York or I don't want to be here in New York. So I don't want nobody to get that impression."
Woodson thinks it is fine that Anthony intends on testing the free agent market. He believes the forward has every right to talk with other teams, but he does not want Anthony to go around talking to the media anymore about the decision.
"If he's going to test it, he's got to test it. That's on him," Woodson said, via ESPN.com. "But at this point he's got to worry about this season and this season only because that's what's staring him in the face."
Anthony appears ready to opt out of the final year of his contract. His final two years are worth $23.3 million in salary. Woodson is simply concerned about the approaching year and not what Anthony plans on doing next year. He is hopeful that the pending decision will not become a distraction as the year progresses. The Knicks have NBA title hopes.
"It shouldn't weigh on him. Melo's going to be fine. He's put himself in a great position. ... We're expecting big things from Melo. It's been that way since I've been here and it's not going to change," Woodson said. "He's a major centerpiece of what we've done here the last few years I've been here. That's important. (His performance) weighs heavily on this season."
Anthony can actually make more money re-signing with the Knicks than any other team that will pursue him. It is that reason alone that Woodson believes will keep the All-Star in New York. Anthony can get a five-year contract worth $129,135,806 (per ESPN). While the Los Angeles Lakers and others are expected to target Anthony, the money remains in New York.
