The New York Knicks are well aware that their success will likely rise or fall with Carmelo Anthony as he is the biggest star on the team this season. After failing to acquire marquee free agents in the offseason, Anthony enters another season of uncertainty and he is simply trying to make the most of it. Currently still healing from knee surgery and working out with Team USA basketball, Anthony is also gaining quick chemistry with Kristaps Porzingis.
When Knicks drafted Porzingis, he was met with boos from the fans and reported doubt from Anthony. However, he is turning every negative opinion around including the one Anthony reportedly had. Porzingis posted on his Twitter account a video of him working out with Anthony as he knocks down some three-point shots in the process. Anthony made it very clear that he holds no ill will towards the Knicks draft class and believes that Porzingis could actually be an x-factor for the team in 2015.
"You can tell he has a chip on his shoulder, and I love that," said Anthony, via ESPN.com. "You've gotta have that in the NBA. That was the first thing I saw when I saw him working out. He's a tough guy."
At the moment, Porzingis is playing behind Derrick Williams, but it appears he is doing everything he can to change that. With little depth in size, Porzingis stands a great chance at earning the starting spot over Williams if he spends more time with Anthony prior to training camp beginning.
Several spots in the lineup are up for grabs with the Knicks. The starting point guard might be the biggest question mark of all. With Jose Calderon, Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant on the roster, there is no clear choice for who is on the starting lineup in the first game of the season. Galloway is the hot choice of the moment while Calderon intends on earning the spot back. According to Ian Begley of ESPN.com, Galloway is not guaranteed to make the roster after only getting a partially guaranteed contract from New York. Team president Phil Jackson spoke out saying he needed to see just how much Galloway has improved in the offseason. However, with the injury history of Calderon, keeping Galloway might be the smart idea for the long-term outlook of the season.
