Carmelo Anthony Will Use NY Knicks Season as Context in His Offseason Decision

Unfortunately for the New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony knows his rights. So everything the reeling Knickerbockers have said and done this year will be held against them.

Per Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: 

That's bad news for the Knicks, as they've stumbled to a woefully disappointing 21-36 record this season. And recently, things have really hit the skids. New York has lost three straight games and eight of its last 10 overall.

And with 'Melo getting all philosophical after a string of recent losses in which he played particularly well, the Knicks shouldn't feel confident about how their wasted season will influence Anthony's free-agent decision this summer.

After dropping 44 points in a gut-wrenching loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 24, the Knicks' leading scorer mused, "You ask yourself, is it all worth it?" at the postgame press conference (via Isola).

Is that rhetorical? Because it sure seems like the obvious answer is "of course not."

Stepping back for a moment, it's not at all surprising Anthony will weigh this Knicks season when deciding whether to test out greener pastures. He'd be crazy not to. Of course, some would argue he's crazy for even giving the Knicks a chance to keep him.

He'd command a bigger payday by staying in New York, but between all the front office dysfunction, horrid roster construction and organizational mismanagement, it's hard to make a case for the Knicks as a viable working environment.

Per Sam Amick of USA Today, the one and only Dwight Howard offered Anthony some advice on his decision-making process: "In this situation, you've got to take your heart out of it…So I'd just say for him, take his heart out of it and think with his head and think about business."

As terrifying as it is to say this, Howard is right. 'Melo should use his head on this one. And if he approaches his free agency rationally, he'll probably choose to escape New York as quickly as possible.