Knicks Rumors Roundup: Carmelo Anthony free agency, Pau Gasol to NY?

In today's look into the world of Knicks rumors, the New York Knicks are said to be gaining confidence that superstar Carmelo Anthony will remain in the Big Apple despite opting out of his current deal with the team.

Per ESPN's Marc Stein, "sources told ESPN.com that Knicks officials, while not willing to trumpet it publicly with free agency fast approaching, are quietly confident about their odds of retaining Anthony thanks in part to the idea that new team president Phil Jackson and the high-scoring forward have "connected" to some degree."

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne adds that Jackson could be planning an all-out recruiting mission to acquire Los Angeles Lakers free agent Pau Gasol, in order to team him up with a returning Anthony going forward.

While the Knicks may only be able to offer him $4 million or so per year, Gasol's preexisting relationship with Jackson could be enough for the big man to take a discount.

Are the Rockets pretenders for Anthony?

Out of the shortlist of teams which Melo is slated to meet with after July 1st, the Houston Rockets could have the smallest chance of landing the seven-time All-Star, per a source close to the New York Daily News.

“The only reason Carmelo will go to Houston to listen (to the Rockets) is because of Kevin McHale,” the source said, via Mitch Lawrence's Daily News article on Saturday. “If the coach wasn’t a top-50, all-time player or was a lesser-name coach, then Melo wouldn’t even visit there. But he’ll listen because it’s Kevin McHale.”

Listening and acting are two very different things, however. It might be safe to move the Rockets down the list of potential suitors heading into the craziness of the next couple of weeks.

 

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