GREENBURGH, N.Y. _ Carmelo Anthony remains a Knick for now, and team officials want you to believe he's a big part of the team.
Addressing the situation at a news conference Friday, president Steve Mills said "our plan is" for Anthony to be with the Knicks when training camp starts next week. Coach Jeff Hornacek said he'll remain a starter.
"The role's not going to change," he said. "We're going to implement certain plays, certain defensive schemes that he's going to be asked to do. But if you think I'm not going to start him, you're crazy ... He's a great player. He still is. He's going to lend a lot to our team."
There is some time between now and the start of camp Tuesday, so things could change. The Knicks have tried to trade Anthony but haven't been able to reach a deal with Houston, his preferred destination. According to ESPN, Anthony, who has a no-trade clause, has expanded his list to include the Cavaliers.
General manager Scott Perry didn't rule out something happening. "You always keep an open mind," he said. "Part of my job is to help this team get better in any way that we can. So we're going to continue to do that on a daily basis."
Perry said he met with Anthony shortly after being hired and that it was understood that he could be back. Mills and Hornacek also have met with Anthony, who has been training and playing pickup games in Manhattan with current and former Knicks as well as other NBA stars. Anthony has not been a part of the optional workouts or games at the Knicks' facility.
"Look, Carmelo's going to be back here," Perry said. "Carmelo has always been a professional. That's one thing I've always respected about him. I think he can set a good example for the young players. He's been a 10-time All-Star. If he's back here with the Knicks, we expect him to be the professional he's always exemplified throughout his career and move forward with him."
Mills and Perry wrote recent blog posts about the future on the team's website. Anthony wasn't mentioned in either, but now the Knicks are saying he can help the young players.
Mills and Perry spoke about Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, Tim Hardaway Jr., Frank Ntilikina and Ron Baker being the future. "What we were trying to do is demonstrate to our fans what the long-term plan for the Knicks is going to be," Mills said. "That's why we focused on the young players because that's what our future is and this is the long-term project that the three of us are embarking upon."
Mills later said: "I think Carmelo is going to be fine with our team and I think the chemistry of our team is going to be fine ... We feel he is going to come into our locker room, we're going to do everything we can to bring this team together. Let them know this is a new group here and we will interact with them in a really positive way and do everything we can to bring the group together."
Perry wouldn't address a question about Porzingis taking over as the Knicks' go-to guy if Anthony is no longer on the team.
"I don't want to answer hypothetical," he said. "Obviously, Carmelo is going to be here. So we're going to deal with that. If something ends up changing, we'll answer it at that time.
"Carmelo is a professional. I know he's a very prideful guy. I expect him to play very good basketball when he returns."
Said Hornacek, "The coaches have been planning all summer on the offensive side, defensive side, what we like to do. Carmelo ... when we were going through this stuff, we had him in mind moving forward."
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