In today’s NBA news, Carmelo Anthony says he’s staying in New York and the Black Mamba is unsure if he’ll be ready for opening night.
Melo staying home
According to Newsday Carmelo Anthony is not interested in leaving the New York Knicks at the end of this year, when he is eligible to become a free agent. He is currently serving his third and final year of the $65 million extension he signed in 2011.
“I’m not going nowhere,” said Melo while being interviewed by Bloomberg Television’s “Market Makers.”
Anthony, who edged Kevin Durant for the NBA scoring title, led the Knicks to 54 wins along with the number two seed in the east behind the Heat last season. He could only do so much though, as New York lost in six games to the Pacers in the second round of the playoffs.
If Melo does decide to test the free agent market after this year, many people think the Lakers would make a strong push to acquire his services. The only issue with that is, under the new collective bargaining agreement LA could only offer him a four-year deal worth about $96 million, whereas the Knicks could offer him a maximum deal of five years worth about $129 million. So he would be leaving roughly $33 million on the table. That’s a nice chunk-a-change to us common folk.
Putting money aside for a second, Melo is also a native New Yorker, he was born in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, and lived there till he was 8 before moving to Baltimore with his mom.
Mamba unsure for opener
Kobe Bryant, who is recovering from an injury to his Achilles tendon is not certain he will be ready for opening night, when his Lakers host the rival Clippers.
Kobe tore his Achilles back in April in a game against the Golden State Warriors. He was making a move toward the basket when he suddenly collapsed to the ground in agony. He then remarkably stayed in the game to take his two free throws before being subbed out.
When asked by Time Out Dubai Magazine if he would be ready for the opener, Bryant replied:
“I’m feeling pretty good, Stronger than I was. I’m ahead of [my recovery] schedule. I don’t know [whether] that means I’ll start the season – I hope so.”
We will probably won’t know Bryant’s status for the opener until deep into training camp, but just to put this into perspective, recovery for a torn Achilles usually takes about a full year. If Kobe does end up playing on opening night, which is October 29th, he would have missed all of six and a half months. Needless to say, there is no way this man is human.
Len cleared to practice.
After having surgery on both ankles this offseason, Suns’ rookie Alex Len has been cleared to begin practicing with his team.
Len tweeted a picture of a text message declaring himself ready to go by doctors. The 5th overall pick will likely begin the season coming off the bench behind veteran big man Marcin Gortat.
But due to Gortat’s expiring contract, it is not out of the realm of possibility that he will be dealt before the trade deadline, meaning Len could see a lot of extra playing time toward the end of the season.