New York Knicks Rumors: Anthony May Have Reason To Return But At Young Star's Expense

Carmelo Anthony is doing fine playing with the Portland Trail Blazers, the only team that took a chance on him this NBA season. There is no telling what will happen to the 36-year-old player though there are suggestions of him returning to the New York Knicks. And the reason mentioned for that is because new team president Leon Rose is a big fan of the 10-time NBA All-Star.

For those who have followed the history between Anthony and the Knicks, things just did not turn out well the last time around. Melo suited up for them from 2011 to 2017. He would be traded in September 2017 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, ending a forgettable tenure with the Knicks. Given that fact, seeing the third overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft return to Gotham would initially seem farfetched. But with a new top brass calling the shots, the chances of that happening have changed dramatically.

Marc Bergman of the New York Post suggests that an Anthony return to the Knicks could go down. He adds that Anthony may want to finish his career in New York and the entry of Rose further backs that claim. At 36, Melo is approaching the twilight of his career and ending it with the Knicks could cap his storied NBA career.

Assuming that it does get done, changes will be made particularly in the rotation. Some players may be relegated to a backup role if Anthony does return to the Knicks' fold. And one name that most see doing so is Julius Randle.

The 25-year-old has been a revelation the past years, finally breaking out of his shell when he played for the New Orleans Pelicans. Though his numbers dipped a bit when he joined the Knicks, they remain impressive. This NBA season, Randle played in 64 games, averaging 19.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per Basketball-Reference.com. But these numbers could take a dip if he is relegated to the bench.

Critics feel that Randle could be better off coming off the bench. If Anthony does return to Gotham, most see him as likely starting for New York. This season, Anthony has played in 50 games averaging 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists. He remains a deadly offensive weapon even if those numbers are lower than his career averages.

Before any manpower movement is to be made, the Knicks have to decide on who their next head coach will be. As of this writing, Mike Miller remains the interim head coach. Several names have been linked and interviewed but New York has yet to officially name its head coach for the 2020-21 NBA season.