Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |
Carmelo Anthony will attend the Knicks' informal 5-on-5 scrimmages today in Manhattan, SNY sources confirm.
Anthony, a former Knick and 10-time All-Star, has also worked out with the Nets in an informal setting during the offseason.
Anthony is a free agent and said in a recent interview on ESPN's First Take that his representation has been in touch with several teams about a potential landing spot, including the Clippers and Lakers. He was waived by the Houston Rockets last season after playing 10 games.
Like the Nets, the Knicks have 15 players on guaranteed deals, so one SNY source said not too read too much into Anthony's presence at the workout, which was first reported by Sports Illustrated.
Former Knick Lance Thomas also played in the team scrimmages on Thursday, per SNY sources. Someone in the gym on Thursday said both Anthony and Thomas played well. A source said that, similar to Anthony, there shouldn't be too much read into Thomas' appearance since the Knicks currently have a full roster.
It's worth noting that Anthony and the Knicks have a strong relationship, despite the acrimonious way his Knicks tenure ended and the way things played out under former team president Phil Jackson. So it's not a total surprise that the club would have Anthony at its informal workouts.
Also worth noting -- one person in the gym during Anthony's informal workouts with the Nets in Los Angeles said the 35-year-old was one of the best players in the workouts and that his body looked "great."
Some Nets players strongly support the idea Brooklyn signing Anthony, sources say. Brooklyn, though, has 15 players under guaranteed contracts as well.
Also, according to The Athletic, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are "pushing" for the Nets to sign the veteran forward.
Nets players supporting an Anthony signing and Nets GM Sean Marks wanting to sign Anthony are two different things. It's unknown if Marks would waive a player to add Anthony.
Wilson Chandler's 25-game suspension for a PED violation could open a spot for Anthony if the Nets choose to waive him, though there are no indications that the club has plans to do that.
As SNY reported in June, the Knicks may have had interest in a reunion with Anthony if they had a roster with multiple stars, such as Durant and Irving, ready to win immediately.
That didn't come to fruition, as Durant and Irving signed with Brooklyn. So New York didn't have significant interest in bringing Anthony back during free agency. If the Knicks signed him now, they would likely have to waive one of the 15 players they've signed to a guaranteed contract.