Phil Jackson would like to see Carmelo Anthony ‘have success somewhere’

Less than a month after he told reporters Carmelo Anthony would be better off on another team, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson doubled down on that sentiment, noting the All-Star forward should waive his no-trade clause and search for an opportunity to play for a championship contender.

“We’d like him to have success,” Jackson at a recess during Friday’s NBA Draft Combine, according to ESPN.com. “The opportunity is narrowing. We’d just like him to have success somewhere. We’re not going to be there. Hopefully, we’ll be maybe a playoff team next year. It would be tough to consider us a possible champion.”

Anthony, who turns 33 at the end of May, has two years remaining on his contract worth $53 million. He has a no-trade clause and must sign off on any deal before being traded, as well as a 15 percent trade kicker that increases the value of the final two years of his deal to around $62 million.

During his April 14 exit press conference, the Zen Master suggested he would do all in his power to trade the 10-time All-Star before the start of next season. That would prove difficult, however, since it was Jackson who signed Anthony to a five-year deal in 2014 with the no-trade clause and trade kicker.

“I think the direction with our team is that he would be better off somewhere else,” Jackson said during that media session.

The Knicks were considered playoff contenders at the beginning of the season. Jackson traded for Derrick Rose, then signed Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, and Brandon Jennings to free agent deals. The roster fell below expectations, in part due to wavering commitment to the Triangle Offense. New York finished the season 31-51 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

It extended Jackson’s record as an NBA executive to 80-166 and sent Kristaps Porzingis back to his hometown of Latvia, skipping out on his exit press conference due to frustration with management.

The Zen Master attempted to move Anthony at least twice during the regular season. He offered the All-Star forward in a deal to Cleveland for Kevin Love, as well as a trade package to the Los Angeles Clippers for pieces outside of their Big 3 of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. There were rumblings he made an offer to the Boston Celtics, as well.

If Anthony doesn’t waive his no-trade clause, the drama in New York will continue to stew. Jackson and Knicks owner James Dolan jointly opted into the final two seasons of their agreement to keep the Zen Master as team president through 2019.

So if Anthony doesn’t go, next season will likely be a repeat of this one.