Anthony wore one of his trademark spiffy hats, was his usual amiable self and agreed with the assertion that players supposedly locked into staying where they are could reconsider based on postseason results. “I hear conversations all the time — ‘I want to see what happens with this situation,’ ” he said.

He stayed in New York for the extra guaranteed money and admitted to some justifiable remorse when the Knicks crashed and burned, with his season going down with them when he opted for surgery on his left knee after February’s All-Star Game.

As often is the case with Anthony, he quickly embraced the politically correct inverse, claiming to have returned because he believed in Jackson’s ability — at that time, anyway — to build a contender.

Now, he said: “Phil really gets a chance to put his stamp on what he wants this organization to be about, what he wants this team to be about, what players he wants in here. This is the time where he’s going to step up to the plate.”

Consider that a hope, a prayer or a direct challenge. For all the happy talk from Jackson about not falling into old Knicks habits, not trying to buy talent and instead finding complementary pieces to fit the triangle, he was handed a virtual blank check by James L. Dolan in part because of his presumed ability to resonate with the biggest name brands.

Steve Mills? His title is executive vice president and general manager, a job he was said to retain after Jackson’s arrival because he had connections with high-profile agents and players.

Between the two of them, Jackson and Mills should be able to develop a strategy that seizes upon the opportunity they have been gifted with for a summer in which they will have roughly $30 million in salary-cap space. The expected dramatic rise in league revenue after next season could convince some free agents to seek a shorter deal in July, with a one-year opt-out timed for the summer of 2016.