The Carmelo Anthony trade train continues to chug along the league just 30 days before the 2017 NBA season kicks off. Many are wondering whether the Knicks and the All Star would continue to work together or will Melo strike a deal with a new team this year. Fans and experts believe the latter would be a win-win for both camps. Jim Boeheim strongly believes this as well.
Team USA coach approves Carmelo Anthony to Rockets deal
Coach Jim Boeheim thinks starting over is best for both Anthony and the New York Knicks. He says moving on from each other is best for the franchise and for the small forward.
Boeheim has been working close with the Brooklyn local even before he was drafted number three overall in 2003. He coached Anthony way back in college at Syracuse and has been an assistant coach with Team USA with which Melo has been a part of since 2004.
According to Boeheim, the Knicks should start rebuilding around their younger players -- they currently have standouts Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez and Tim Hardaway Jr among their young guns. As for Melo, the Syracuse coach thinks he still has "two or three great years left" in him and he is better spending these seasons with a more formidable, winning team.
"I think for Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks, the best thing is for him is to go someplace where they can start over,” Boeheim told Zagsblog.com.
“[The New York Knicks] need to start over. They have young guys."
As for Anthony, teaming up with veterans would give him a chance at a few more Playoff runs and a possible ring. The coach added that a winning culture wouldn't happen in the next three years for the New York NBA franchise.
So where does Coach Boeheim think Melo should go?
Just like the 10-time NBA All Star, he agress that the Houston Rockets would be a "great" landing spot for him. With Chris Paul and James Harden, Anthony could play the way he did with the Olympic team, "spot up, make shots."
He added that the NYK one-on-one situations don't work well for the spot up shooter. Carmelo Anthony to Rockets makes a lot of sense since he'll be thinking less of distributing and more of producing points.
Carmelo Anthony stats with Knicks
While Carmelo's career has not flourished much since he joined the Knicks in 2010, it's a lie to say he has not been impressive. Yes, they may have missed the NBA Playoffs in the last four seasons, but Melo has not dipped lower than 21.8 (2015-16) points a season since joining NYK.
He has posted his highest rebounding averages (8.1ppg in 2013-14) and assist numbers (4.2ppg in 2015-16) with the Knicks. He has received seven of his 10 NBA All Star recognitions with New York and was an All NBA Second (2013) and Third Team (2012) with them. However, as fans would see from viral videos of "Hoodie Melo" a move and fresh start may just reignite Anthony to new levels of high and a possible ring.
