The New York Knicks fired Mike Woodson and now Steve Kerr looks to be the top option to take over, while Carmelo Anthony is watching closely as Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, Lance Stephenson and LeBron James could be free agency targets as free agents in the summer of 2014 as the NY franchise tries to keep Melo in the big apple.
Gasol is a free agent this summer and he has already said to replrters that he would listen to Jackson if he made a pitch to bring him to NY, while Mitch Kupchak has said that he wants to bring Gasol back as well. Gasol was solid this season with 17 points and nearly 10 boards per game and he could be a prime option for the team. Zach Randolph also could be in the mix, while Lance Stephenson is a wild card, as he likely will not be able to stay with the Pacers since they can't afford him and he will have interest from the Bulls, Lakers and Bobcats heading into the summer.
During the season Gasol came up in trade rumors multiple times and those were to the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers and now that he is set to be a free agent, it is very likely that he leaves Los Angeles. Gasol did not get along with Mike D'Antoni over the past two seasons and while he loves playing with Kobe Bryant, the superstar was injured this year and his future is a bit uncertain as well and Gasol may not want to deal with another year of turmoil in LA. Gasol meshed well with Phil Jackson when he was in Los Angeles and after winning championships together he could come to New York, which also has been rumored over the past couple years.
The Knicks had a very tough season in 2013-14 and now the focus goes to Carmelo Anthony and his future, as he has the chance to opt out this summer and likely will be doing just that. The Knicks technically have the best chance to sign him, as they can give him an extra year and in turn more money, but after the career that Melo has had, money is not everything and the way the team played this season could have him worried about the future. According to ESPN.com, the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets are considered the most likely options to go after Anthony and he easily could consider those better situations than the Knicks.
Anthony has never been a true free agent in his career and it's his right to leave if he wants to, but really even if he stays, Melo just wants to be wooed while he still is at the top of his game at 29 years old. This will likely be the last major contract he signs unless he gets a Kobe deal down the line and that is why he wants to opt out. The Knicks brought in Jackson this season to turn things around and that could help Anthony stay and so could the hiring of the next head coach after Mike Woodson was fired.
Anthony had another very good season with the Knicks, but they couldn't pull out of their early season struggles after they started the year 3-13. The team never recovered and ended up 37-45 on the season after winning 50 games and the division title last season. That big regression could be the reason that Melo leaves and if he does, the Knicks will look to 2015 as the next chance to try and get Kevin Love as their top priority.
