Are Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks Headed Down Inevitable Road to Divorce?

A year after the New York Knicks inked franchise face Carmelo Anthony to a five-year, $124 million contract, team president Phil Jackson has used this summer's wealth of cap space to build around his lone superstar.

Now the question is whether that star approves of the organization's strategy, and it's a question that could determine how much longer the Melo era lasts in NYC. Current indications require no shortage of speculation, but they aren't particularly promising. 

According to the New York Daily News' Frank Isola, Jackson said he hadn't spoken with Anthony since this month's commencement of free agency. He added that he isn't especially worried that the eight-time All-Star might be upset by some of the franchise's decisions—along with its inability to land another star contributor such as LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan or Greg Monroe:

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Well, you know, we're a team sport. When we're putting a team together, that's our first priority. How do we make a team that works together? That’s the important aspect. How this all comes together is still a mystery for us. We've got five months to kinda get into it here.

Obviously Carmelo is a guy that is a premier player. We understand that. But it's a team game. And it has to fit together.

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How's that fit looking so far? That probably depends on whom you ask. Fans were decidedly unimpressed with the selection of Kristaps Porzingis with the No. 4 overall pick in last month's draft. The rangy center has shown promise during summer-league competition, but it may take time for him to win the city over in earnest. 

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New York's free-agent haul is similarly open to mixed opinion. So far, Jackson and Co. have reached agreements with center Robin Lopez, swingman Arron Afflalo, big man Kyle O'Quinn and forward Derrick Williams. The group is short on big names, but it could advance the club's bid to hone its defensive prowess. According to Jackson, that's chief among the Knicks' priorities.

"We made a defensive attempt in free agency to really kind of solidify our team and really give ourselves a basis in which we can work from," he added. "I think everything went according to how we thought it would go. There's some long shots out there that we took. But the reality was we wanted what we got."

Jackson conceded that Anthony's scoring remained critical but emphasized the importance of a two-way approach.

"His scoring is still going to be very important for us," Jackson said. "We really said we wanted to play defense, and this is what we're attempting to do with our free agency, and this is what makes a difference in how teams win, by defensively taking a stance."

Most basketball minds would agree that New York has made progress to that end, particularly with the additions of Lopez and Afflalo—both known for their defensive pedigree. But Anthony may have had grander expectations. After all, he re-signed with the franchise likely believing that Jackson's mere presence would attract premier talent via free agency. That hasn't really happened—not yet.

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Here's how Isola describes Anthony's current thinking:

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According to a source close to Anthony, the 31-year-old All-Star is skeptical about the Knicks' slow rebuilding plan, especially after believing Jackson would add a high-profile free agent. Last summer, Anthony repeatedly said he "believes in Phil" and indicated that Jackson would make the necessary moves to make the Knicks a contender.

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At minimum, Jackson has certainly acquired the kinds of assets that could one day be dealt in exchange for more star talent. But that day doesn't appear to be imminent. It's more likely that the front office will use this summer's acquisitions as proof that the franchise is building a core with all the right kinds of defensive virtues. In turn, future free agents might be convinced the Knicks are headed in the right direction and sign accordingly.

That's the hope, anyway.

"We need to win, be a competitive team," Jackson explained. "I think we showed agents and players around the league a serious nature of what we're trying to accomplish. People who know basketball will recognize that, and we'll have people who want to come here."

Much depends on whether Anthony sticks around for the ride. He wanted a splash this summer, so much so that he reportedly made calls to the team's prized targets in advance of the July 1 free-agency moratorium, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard. Anthony did his part to little avail, and it wouldn't be surprising if he were to now question New York's ability to land top-shelf talent. That question has become all the more acute during a summer in which smaller markets such as San Antonio and Milwaukee emerged victorious in claiming two of the Knicks' targets.

As bad as things look for the Knicks' short-term outlook, one can only guess how Anthony really feels about the situation. We've seen mixed signals.

Isola reported in June, "Anthony, according to a source, doesn't understand why Jackson would waste such a high pick on a player [Porzingis] who can't help immediately."

Anthony later seemed to contradict that news by describing Porzingis as "a steal" on his Instagram account.

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No one but Anthony (and presumably those closest to him) really knows how he feels. But some degree of impatience would certainly be understandable after a 17-win campaign that firmly eluded the postseason. That's not a status quo many would be pleased with, and signs of gradual but modest improvement are unlikely to fundamentally change that assessment.

This summer may have been a sign of defensive victories to come, and it just might resonate with future free agents. Unfortunately, there's no telling if it's impressed Anthony.

And that matters. Without him buying in, the Knicks' rebuild would be poised to take a very different shape. Anthony has a no-trade clause in his contract, but he could conceivably waive it and even push for an exit if things go awry this season.

It might not be the worst-possible outcome for the franchise, either. There's no sense in holding a discontent superstar captive.

But unless and until the organization must cross that bridge, the more immediate concern is winning—the one thing that would almost certainly ameliorate whatever concerns Anthony might have at the moment.

Jackson's offseason may not have been pretty, but it could still prove effective.