Carmelo Anthony Rumors: 'High-Ranking' Knicks Execs Wanted to Sign Melo in 2019

"High-ranking members" of the New York Knicks' front office were reportedly interested in signing Carmelo Anthony in free agency last year, but the plans faded after the organization was unable to land two superstars with its max contract slots.

Ian Begley of SNY reported the update Monday and noted it's possible the Knicks revisit Melo as an option now that Leon Rose, the 10-time All-Star forward's former agent, is the team's president.

The Knicks entered last offseason amid rumors of a massive summer haul led by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, a dynamic duo that instead signed with the rival Brooklyn Nets. Anthony was viewed as a potential third piece if they could have brought in those other big names.

He no longer made sense after New York was instead restricted to a series of mid-tier signings, which all but guaranteed another playoff-less season for the storied franchise.

The Knicks owned a 21-45 record when the campaign was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Anthony remained on the open market until he signed a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in mid-November.

The 35-year-old Syracuse product provided a scoring boost while mostly playing in a stretch 4 role, averaging 15.3 points across 50 appearances. His impact was otherwise limited, however, as he ranked 80th out of 96 qualified power forwards in ESPN's real plus-minus.

Anthony, the 2013 NBA scoring champion, has struggled to find a niche during the latter stages of his career while not operating as a team's go-to scoring option. It previously led to short stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.

"I had to accept a role I wasn't willing to accept at that point and time," he told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith in August.

He seemed more comfortable in the secondary role in Portland, but he didn't perform like much more than a fringe roster player.

A return to the Knicks could create a cool storyline, but it's a move that wouldn't significantly change the franchise's outlook without other major additions.