'Y'all Need Him!' Carmelo Anthony's Failed Attempt to Make Tyrese Haliburton A New York Knick

Count Carmelo Anthony among those ruing the day that the New York Knicks passed on Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.

Carmelo Anthony tried to warn them.

The former New York Knicks star apparently vied for a front office ... or at least a scouting ... position in the lead-up to the 2020 NBA Draft, one that's currently becoming a sticking point in franchise history. New York held the eighth pick in those selections and eventually chose Dayton forward Obi Toppin. 

Even though the Knicks chose a fellow Brooklyn native, Anthony tried to steer them in another direction, namely to that of Iowa State point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Anthony documented his ultimately futile intervention on the debut episode of his new podcast "7PM in Brooklyn" to his co-host The Kid Mero.

"Haliburton will be someone I always like," Anthony said, including the current Indiana Pacer in his list of the NBA's premier young talents. "I was trying to get him with the Knicks years ago. 'Please draft, like please.' I wasn't even on the Knicks but like, yo, you better draft him! Y'all need him!" 

Mero likewise hounded the Knicks on draft night, albeit from a distance. 

"That's crazy because you've got way more juice than me," Mero tells Anthony of the apparent rejection. "I'm just screaming at the TV like 'Take Haliburton!'" 

Haliburton (L) drew Anthony's praise long before his In-Season Tournament breakout / USA TODAY SPORTS

Anthony and Mero can laugh about it now, but the Knicks probably aren't. Haliburton was drafted by the Sacramento Kings four picks after Toppin but was traded to Indiana in the midst of his second season with the team. His first full campaign with the Pacers produced a breakout showcase that yielded All-Star honors and the follow-up has been brilliant: Haliburton currently averages 26.9 points alongside an NBA-best 12.1 assists and played a major role in the Pacers' unexpected run to the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament finale. 

At the time of the draft, the Knicks were struggling in the backcourt, relying on Elfrid Payton and the last days of the Frank Ntilikina era at the one. New York eventually found gold in the form of Jalen Brunson but the decision to pass on Haliburton has re-entered the spotlight in the wake of his IST antics. 

Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers Still Heated Over Knicks Analyst's 'Wannabe All-Star' Comment

Ironically, Haliburton currently collaborates with Toppin, who was dealt to Indianapolis for a meager return of second-round picks last summer. Toppin never found a consistent role in the New York rotation after Julius Randle's breakout and the Knicks finally admitted defeat in July. The former Flyer has become a mainstay in the Indiana starting lineup, averaging 13 points in just under 25 minutes a game. Toppin is likewise a league leader, as he's hitting 77.5 percent of his two-point tries (the Knicks currently rank 28th in the category as a team). 

The Knicks and Pacers will do battle at the end of this month in the first of three meetings. In the meantime, New York faces the Toronto Raptors on Monday night at home (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).