Carmelo Anthony insists he may be willing to take a pay cut to aid the New York Knicks in their pursuit of a NBA title, provided he decides to remain with the organization beyond this season.
Appearing in New Orleans for this weekend’s All-Star Game weekend, Anthony told ESPN he might be open to taking less money if he’s convinced the team will use the remains of it to attract other big-name free agents.
“Without a doubt,” said Anthony. “Any opportunity I have to build that up in New York, I’d do it. I told people all the time, always say, ‘If it takes me taking a pay cut, I’ll be the first one on [Knicks owner] Mr. [James] Dolan’s steps saying take my money and let’s build something strong over here.'”
Anthony admits he still plans to opt out of his current deal this summer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll being leaving The Garden anytime soon. He further insisted to ESPN his “first priority” remains re-signing with the Knicks, who currently find themselves 12 games below .500 and out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
“I’ve never been a guy that comes into a situation, when it’s not going well, to leave,” he added. “That’s not my personality. I’m going to make money. I have money. I’m good if I want to retire right now.”
Anthony could re-sign with the Knicks for as much as $129 million over five-years in a max deal, while the most he can get as a free agent is $96 million over four seasons. “As far as the money, it don’t really matter to me,” Anthony insisted. If I go somewhere else, I get paid. If I stay in New York, I get paid. As far as the money goes, it’s not my concern. My concern is to be able to compete on a high level, a championship level, coming in this last stretch of my career. I want to compete at that level.”
Anthony added he plans to meet with coaches at the end of the season to gauge management’s proposed direction before making his ultimate decision on where he next plans to sign.
“At the end of the season, that is the time that everything has to be laid out on the table, from both parties,” he said. “If it’s something that we can grow with, we can build on, we can compete at the highest level, then we’re rolling.”
