Knicks Rumors: Melo confident Knicks will offer max contract
In another look into the busy world of Knicks rumors, New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is very confident that the New York Knicks will offer him a full five-year max contract when the 2014 NBA free agency period begins.
Per Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, "although Anthony has hinted at signing for less to give the Knicks salary cap flexibility and team president Phil Jackson publicly challenging Anthony to stay true to his word, the sense is that the Knicks will at least come close to offering the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, which in this case is $129 million over five years."
Free agency begins at 12:01am on Tuesday morning, and the Knicks are expected to call Anthony and reiterate their desire to re-sign him to a long-term deal. However, Anthony is still expected to meet with the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, and the Los Angeles Lakers sometime between this coming Thursday and early next week.
The most any other team can offer Melo is four years at $96 million, so the Knicks have the advantage when it comes to financials.
However, teams such as the Phoenix Suns are using the potential of pairing Anthony with his close friend, LeBron James as a recruiting tool - touting their ability to offer a max deal to each as an enticing prospect for the coveted pair of stars.
Either way, until Anthony finally makes his intentions clear, everything will remain up in the air when it comes to his final landing spot.
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