Carmelo Anthony says talk of him waiting to join the Knicks after next season is only rumors.
“I’ve been hearing that for five years,” Anthony told the Denver Post. “I’m a Denver Nugget. I’m here, I’m with the Nuggets. I don’t become a free agent until next year, if I decide not to take that extension.”
The newspaper earlier reported that Anthony is in no rush to sign a three-year, $65 million contract the Nuggets have offered.
Writer Chris Dempsey says that is the latest sign Anthony does not plan to stay with the Nuggets.
“These are some of the dots: He’s selling his Littleton (Colo.) estate; the constant reports of Anthony telling friends that he wants to play for the New York Knicks; his New York wedding; his East Coast upbringing; summer trade talk that has cropped up twice in his time in Denver, which hasn’t always made him feel wanted; oh, and not signing a contract that averages around $21.6 million per year for the next three years, a sizable amount of money that he may not be able to earn with a new collective bargaining agreement,” Dempsey writes.
Of that extension, Anthony told the Denver Post, “I’m just taking my time with it. Obviously, everybody knows I’m loyal to the Denver Nuggets community and to the Denver Nuggets. I’ve shown that over my seven-year stint here. I don’t think anybody can question that. But at this point in time, I have to do what’s best for me and my family. I’m just taking my time, figuring out if I want to take that extension or not.”
A report last week said Anthony has told friends the Knicks are “perfect for him.”
Amar’e Stoudemire, before signing with the Knicks this offseason as a free agent, said Anthony and Spurs guard Tony Parker, “are ready to join me if I decide to come here, so I’m gonna see if we can work it out.”
NBA.com speculates that the Nets recently traded for Troy Murphy to clear salary-cap space for a run at Anthony, with the possible addition of Hornets guard Chris Paul, too.
Teammate Chauncey Billups has said repeatedly this week he believes Anthony will stay in Denver.
Anthony was the third pick in the 2003 NBA Draft that included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, all of whom signed lucrative free-agent contracts with the Miami Heat this offseason.