Melo opted to remain in New York and play part in Phil Jackson’s plan…
Carmelo Anthony’s former college coach and Team USA assistant, Joe Boeheim, believes that the New York Knicks star would have been better off with the Chicago Bulls.
Anthony visited the Bulls, the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers during free agency this summer, but ultimately he decided to remain in New York.
The 30-year-old signed a long-term deal and suggested that the appointment of president Phil Jackson as well as the arrival of new coach, Derek Fisher, were key reasons behind his decision to stay in the Big Apple.
However, many have criticised his choice as he would undoubtedly have had a better, and more immediate, opportunity to challenge for a championship with the Bulls, despite the fact that they would have had to of sacrificed part of their depth to land him.
Instead, he is likely to have to wait a year at least before the Knicks are deemed competitive in the Eastern Conference, with the Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers considered amongst the favourites next season after their moves this summer.
“Just from a basketball point of view it would have been better to go to Chicago because they’ve got better players,” Boeheim, who coached Anthony on Syracuse’s national championship team in 2003, said on Monday, ESPN New York reports.
“But he wanted to be in New York and he wants to see if they can turn it around there. I think that’s a great thing.”
Boeheim went on to concede his belief that had Jackson not arrived in New York then Anthony would have more than likely opted to leave the Knicks and started a new challenge elsewhere.
However, the landscape has changed since his appointment as he arrives with a philosophy and a winning pedigree which will undoubtedly benefit the Knicks in the long-term as they continue to improve with their biggest star still within the ranks.
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