Fans who believe that Carmelo Anthony should have picked the Chicago Bulls over the New York Knicks can take solace in the fact that one of the best basketball minds of our time agrees with them.
That would be the mind of Team USA assistant and head coach of the Syracuse Orangemen, Jim Boeheim.
Here’s more from ESPN New York’s Ian Begley:
“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. “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.”
While Anthony gave the Bulls (and Lakers) strong consideration, he ultimately returned to New York for a five-year $124 million contract. The Bulls could only offer Anthony a $74 million contract.
Money talks.
And apparently, so does Phil Jackson.
“I would think so. He stayed because he believes Phil,” Boeheim said. “Derek Fisher, he knows the game. If you’re going to pick a coach who hasn’t coached, he would be the guy I would pick. I think he’s a great choice. I talked to Derek a little bit. I think he’s really smart. I think he’ll be a really good coach. I think they’ll show significant improvement this year. If they get a couple of guys down the road, I think they’ll be good.”
“The bottom line is that [Anthony] wanted to stay in New York and he feels that they’ll be significantly better this year. A few moves, a different look, a more consistent approach. And then it comes down to can you attract a couple guys? Maybe not the guy — but a couple good players to get you back on the right road.”
More from around the NBA
- Longtime NBA referee Dick Bavetta retires after 39 years: “Bavetta officiated a record 2,635 consecutive regular-season games after starting his NBA career on Dec. 2, 1975. He also worked 270 playoff games, including 27 in the NBA Finals. NBA president Rod Thorn says Tuesday in a statement that the league is “grateful for his contributions to our league, and we wish him the best as he enjoys his well-earned retirement.” Bavetta, 74, also worked the 1992 Olympics, the first involving NBA players, and has officiated in leagues in New York and New Jersey. He is most proud of his streak, which last season surpassed even the 2,632 consecutive games played by baseball ironman Cal Ripken Jr.”
- Kyrie Irving believes he has not been a leader for the Cleveland Cavaliers: “Across the NBA, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant heaved praise on Irving at such a young age, as such a genius scorer and wizard of the ball, and only he understands the truth. He knows he’s been no leader, no influence for players, but just a one-and-done collegiate athlete given apprentice status and ownership of an underdeveloped program. “I haven’t been a leader – not at all,” Irving told RealGM. Team USA’s practice ended the other day at the Quest Sports Complex, and Irving sat in a chair near the back of the gym, taking photo requests as a Nike representative hovered nearby. His arms tugged around surrounding seats, his knees prepared for icing, and his mind synchronized with Mike Krzyzewski’s approach in this World Cup. He swears he’s unconditionally focused on USA Basketball, but away from here LeBron James has long since returned and helped bring Mike Miller, Shawn Marion and James Jones to Cleveland. Kevin Love is coming, too. The Indiana Pacers pushed hard for Marion, and sources say they laid out a $1.7-plus million offer and an outline of a significant role in discussions with the free agent veteran.”
- The Cleveland Cavaliers finalize coaching staff, add Larry Drew and James Posey: “Blatt will have Drew, Jim Boylan, Bret Brielmaier and James Posey on the bench with him along with Tyronn Lue, who was named an associate head coach in June. Drew went 15-67 in his only season in Milwaukee. He was expected to get a second year but was fired so the Bucks could hire Jason Kidd. Drew, a former NBA player, also coached the Atlanta Hawks. Boylan and Brielmaier both return for their second season with the Cavs. Posey spent last season coaching Cleveland’s Development League affiliate in Canton. He won league titles as a player with Miami and Boston.”
- Greg Monroe is maximizing his minimal leverage with the Detroit Pistons: “So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Monroe has opted for a rather unprecedented plan to accept a one-year qualifying offer worth $5.5 million from the Detroit Pistons in an effort to gain his outright freedom next year as an unrestricted free agent. With teams having the first right of refusal, restricted free agency was never meant to work in favor of the players under the collective bargaining agreement – especially those who might be unwilling to make a long-term commitment to a franchise that has failed to make much progress during his time in uniform. Even if he desired to sign elsewhere this summer, Monroe would essentially be setting the contract terms for the Pistons to match and tie him up for the next four years. The only leverage Monroe possesses is to take the qualifying offer and take control of his own destiny next year without the restrictions he faces now.”
- Sheridan: Final cuts for Team USA could come by Thursday: “Also, a day after telling ESPN.com that all roster cuts could be made Thursday, team director Jerry Colangelo reversed course and said Team USA could take as many as 14 players on the plane Saturday when they travel to Grand Canary Island to prepare for an exhibition game against Slovenia. Clearly, this team is in more of a state of flux that many, including myself, were led to believe after Saturday night’s 17-point victory over Brazil. For now, the players who are locks to make the final roster – barring injuries – are Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Kenneth Faried and Mason Plumlee. Cousins and Rose are close to being certainties. But they are NOT locks. Tuesday’s practice marked Cousins’ first live scrimmage since he was injured last Thursday in Chicago, suffering a bone bruise in his knee. “He did well today, he’ll play tomorrow … I’m expecting him to play,” Krzyzewski said before being informed of the “50-50″ comment. “He should be a guy who’s in the rotation. The fact that he’s come here and I’ve gotten to know him, I can push him better and I can understand him better. He gives us somebody different when Anthony is out of the game. But we still have decisions about whether you might (have) Anthony at the 4 and one of the other bigs, DeMarcus or one of the others, at the 5.” Krzyzewski went on to call Faried’s performance against Brazil “outstanding,” the type of language he typically uses only when speaking of players who are 100 percent on the final roster. Davis is clearly going to be the alpha dog for Team USA as he showed against Brazil, but beyond that there are more questions than definitive answers.