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Carmelo Anthony return to Knicks in play under Leon Rose

Incoming Knicks president Leon Rose is expected to be interested in bringing Carmelo Anthony back to the Knicks next season, according to multiple NBA executives.

Rose has served as Anthony’s agent at Creative Artists Agency since 2009. Rose was hired by Anthony partly to engineer his departure from Denver to the Knicks in a blockbuster deal at the 2011 trade deadline. Their union will end in the coming days as Rose officially takes control of the Knicks. Will there be an encore?

Anthony, who signed in November with the Trail Blazers after an involuntary yearlong sabbatical, did not rule it out when asked Thursday. The Brooklyn product, who will be 36 next training camp, has played well, averaging 15.5 points. It’s likely he won’t be looking for a big contract, especially to come back home to potentially retire as a Knick.





“It’s hard to say because I don’t know what that situation is going to be,” Anthony told Newsday while in Indianapolis facing the Pacers. “The easiest thing to say is, ‘His agent is there, he’s coming back.’ Until I sit down and see the whole plan, I don’t know.

“Me and him, we talk multiple times a week. That’s not something we even discuss. I still think it’s still a shock for everybody. When the offseason comes … I got to be careful now because it’s tampering.”

After Rose’s hiring earlier this month, Anthony told Bleacher Report he believes Rose will be effective. While Rose’s maneuvering of Anthony to the Knicks in a blockbuster trade didn’t pan out long-term, the agent did help put together a successful grouping of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.





“He had all of us at one time,’’ Anthony told Bleacher Report. “Me, Bron, D-Wade, CP, Bosh. He had the best of the best. And I think people respected that. He never burned bridges. He was always honest with everybody.’’

According to sources, NBA executives/agents have been told not to bother Rose about Knicks issues until March 1, which is Sunday. The Knicks are expected to make an official announcement on Rose’s hiring as soon as Monday.

“Player relations, he’s very big on that,” Anthony said. “Deal-making, very big on that. Communicating. Knowing personnel. He’s been in this game for a long time. He’s represented the best of the best in this game. He knows. He’s made deals. That’s just what he does. He’s good at running his organization and his own business.”





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