Report: Carmelo Anthony buys into Phil Jackson’s plan for the Knicks

Carmelo Anthony reportedly plans to take the weekend to choose his destination in free agency, but this really sounds like a done deal.

As many expected lately, Melo seems seems set to re-sign with the Knicks.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony probed New York Knicks management on the franchise’s plan to restore a contending roster and left his final free-agency meeting largely aligned with president Phil Jackson’s vision, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

In the meeting that included general manager Steve Mills, Jackson dispelled doubts that he was indifferent about Anthony staying with the Knicks, sources said. New York officials have made it clear to Anthony that they need him on the roster to have a chance to attract star players in free agency, sources said. After a week of franchises fawning over him during recruiting trips to Chicago, Houston, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony needed to hear that enthusiasm out of the Knicks’ top management

That’s all well and good, but the Knicks offering Melo a max contract surely played a huge part in the decision. Jackson and the Knicks’ public desire to shake up a faulty roster just gives Melo cover to take the money without saying he’s only in it for the money.

No matter what Jackson has in mind, the previous regime left him a mess. He’ll be hard-pressed to make the Knicks much better next season.

Maybe Melo is cool with a lost year if the future looks bright – and that would be, at best, the bargain he’s taking. Or maybe he just wants the money and stability of staying in New York.