Carmelo Anthony Injury: Updates on Knicks Star's Shoulder

The New York Knicks may be out of the 2013 NBA playoffs, but that hasn't stopped them from stealing headlines. In fact, the news coming out of New York is not only revealing, but also potentially devastating.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Carmelo Anthony is battling a small left shoulder tear.

This comes after 'Melo played 12 postseason games.

Anthony had been favoring his shoulder throughout the playoffs, even wearing a protective sleeve. He fought through the pain, going for averages of 28.8 points on a slash line of .406/.298/885.

With that being said, it's not about what was—it's about what happens next.

If Anthony requires surgery on the shoulder, there's a possibility that the Knicks have yet another offseason in which their stars battle injuries. Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire have yet to complete an offseason in that regard, as each has faced his fair share of ailments.

This latest development could be the most devastating of all, as New York's window of opportunity appears to be closing.

Entering the 2013-14 season, only one player under contract will be younger than 27 years old. Free agency and the draft could help in that regard, but New York is tight in cap space and was built to win with Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler leading the charge.

Anthony's shoulder injury could be yet another complication in what appeared to be the perfect plan to turn this storied franchise around.