Carmelo Anthony Plays With Knicks Fans' Hearts

Knicks fans desperately cling to the hope that someone, anyone, will want to join their team in the next few years to save them from the misery of this past decade. They tell themselves stories of how everyone wants to play in the Big Apple at the legendary Madison Square Garden, even though that stuff isn't often as important to players as getting paid or being in a winning situation.

So on one level, this was a mighty cruel quote by Carmelo Anthony after last night's Nuggets-Knicks game.

"I really don't know what's going to happen the next year," Anthony said. "I don't know what's going to happen. But I don't see why anybody wouldn't want to play here in New York."

I know, I know, Carmelo's just trying to be nice. But doesn't he understand how Knicks fans operate? Doesn't he understand that, if you say New York would be a cool place to play, that means you want to leave your team as soon as possible to join the Knicks?

Just check out how SNY's Tommy Dee reacted to Melo's quote:

This is what the plan is about to me. They have the opportunity to give Lebron everything, should he pass the team can add pieces this season in the form of a max player and vets maybe on 1 year deals, the possibility of sign and trades, then have space to add the game changer.

At least that's what I've always felt.

What does that mean for fans? Well, if Lebron stays,  I would think a team ready to make the playoffs in the bottom tier and make a push. Have another year of development with added piece, particularly defensively, around Gallinari, Toney Douglas and Wilson Chandler. The chance to add a 1st round pick this year and/or two possible quality second rounders as well.

Then be ready to become a Eastern Conference contender in 2011 if they can convince Melo, who doesn't seem like he needs all that much convincing. 

Or ... maybe he was just trying to be nice. But as we covered above, it never works that way in the minds of many Knicks fans.