Carmelo Anthony: Knicks 'aren't that far away from contending'

Carmelo Anthony says the New York Knicks, who missed the playoffs last season, "aren't that far away from contending." Anthony re-signed with New York for five years and $124 million earlier in July after considering leaving for the Chicago Bulls or Los Angeles Lakers.

Carmelo Anthony, in an interview with ESPN.com, said the New York Knicks, who missed the playoffs last season, "aren't that far away from contending. Anthony re-signed with New York for five years and $124 million earlier in July after considering leaving for the Chicago Bulls or Los Angeles Lakers. 

Anthony told ESPN.com that winning is his highest priority and he has confidence in new Knicks president Phil Jackson. "I want to win. I don't care about the money. I believe Phil will do what he has to do to take care of that."

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The Knicks have already begun re-tooling, sending center Tyson Chandler and point guard Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks in a trade that returned point guard Jose Calderon, former first-round pick Shane Larkin, center Samuel Dalembert and wing Wayne Ellington. The Knicks also drafted forwards Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, though the team plans to stash the latter abroad next season. 

Anthony also said in the interview that he was "flip-flopping" between New York and Chicago, the two teams he was seriously considering. 

Last year Anthony averaged 27.4 points per game, second in the NBA, and shot 40.2 percent on three-pointers, the highest rate of his career. 

- Alex Hampl