Teaming up with LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade?
Carmelo Anthony playfully entertained the idea late Wednesday night.
"We've still got years in this league, so we'll see what happens. Everybody dreams sometimes. Everybody has fantasies," he told reporters in Chicago after the New York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls.
But earlier Wednesday, Anthony struck a different tone.
In an interview that appeared on ESPN during its Knicks-Bulls telecast, Anthony sounded like a player fully committed to New York.
"I came here for a reason, which was to win in New York. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case thus far, but I feel like I have unfinished business to take care of," Anthony said in the interview, which aired at halftime. "And I feel like, I don't know maybe it's just me, if I just get up and run away from something that I started, that I feel a part of and that's not done yet, then I think I would carry that burden on my shoulders."
Anthony's future is in his hands. He has a no-trade clause and would have to waive it to leave New York. Last week, he made it clear that he wanted the front office to add an impact player in the offseason. Some in the Knicks organization say they think Anthony would consider waiving his no-trade clause if New York fails to add talent this summer, league sources say.
But Anthony more recently has said that it'd be foolish to question his loyalty to the Knicks and the city.
"I know the reason why I stuck it out, and people that really understand know why I'm sticking it out," he told reporters in Chicago on Wednesday. "If people want to, I think it's odd to question loyalty at this point in time, especially when you show -- and I've showed time and time again my loyalty to not just the organization, but to New York and vice versa. So at this point I just go out there and play basketball. I try not to worry about it."
On Wednesday, everything worked out well for Anthony on the basketball court. He had 24 points and five assists in the Knicks' 115-107 win over Chicago.
Kristaps Porzingis emerged from a recent mini-slump to pour in 29 points on 11-for-16 shooting, tying his career high. Porzingis, who had been shooting 33 percent in his last nine games entering play Wednesday, also had 10 rebounds. It was his first double-double since Feb. 7.
It was also the Knicks' first win in four games. They are 29-43 and on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third straight season. Anthony, 31, clearly wants to win a title. That's what he means when he says he has unfinished business in New York.
The issue here is that the Knicks seem to be far from title contention. So Anthony might have a decision to make this summer: stick with the Knicks or look for another avenue to pursue an NBA title.
If what Anthony said Wednesday afternoon is any indication, it sounds as if he already has made up his mind.