Five-plus decades without a championship has given New York Knicks fans plenty of time to conjure up “what if” scenarrios and hardwood fanfiction.

Carmelo Anthony added to the ranks during a recent appearance on “Podcast P with Paul George,” detailing a near team-up in Manhattan with LeBron James toward the end of the 2000s.

The ending needs little explanation, as James wound up teaming up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami to form a fleeting yet fruitful super team with the Heat in South Beach. Anthony explained to George and his panel, which also included guest and newly-minted Knick Mikal Bridges, that the original plan was to connect with James … preferably in New York.

“The conversation got serious after 06, 07, 08 with the Big 3. It was supposed to be Bosh and Wade and then me and Bron going somewhere. We just couldn’t find out where,” Anthony said. “We wanted it to be New York … or Chicago, Chicago was in the fold.”

At that time, Anthony and James were stationed with their respective original NBA employers in Denver and Cleveland. The two had formed a close friendship and had talked about collaborating on the floor but a combination of what the Nuggets had brewing and Anthony’s self-described lack of “business savvy” shut things down before they could truly begin.

Pleased with the progress the Nuggets had made since he arrived in the Rockies in 2003 (going from 17 wins to three consecutive playoff appearances and breaking an 18-year division title drought in 2006), Anthony signed a five-year, $80 million extension after the 2005-06 season. James did not do the same in Cleveland (inking a three-year extension instead), setting the stage for a highly-publicized free agency pursuit in 2010.

“In my situation, I was in Denver, we were in the playoffs every year, we had 50-plus wins. We were building something in Denver, so I didn’t want to leave,” Anthony recalled. “So why take a three-year deal? Nah, I’m locked into this five-year deal … then I got ridiculed for taking a five-year deal! You know where the f*** I come from? You’re not leaving no money on the table.”

Anthony’s Nuggets continued to rise but went no further than the 2009 Western Conference Finals. He was eventually traded to the Knicks during the 2010-11 season and spent the next six full seasons in Manhattan.

By then, James had joined Bosh and Wade in Miami, indirectly rendering Anthony the Pete Best of the “Heatles” era. The trio played four seasons together and won two NBA championships before James returned to Cleveland.

Unphased by the Heat’s success, Anthony had no regrets on missing out on the South Beach craze.

“Imagine me at 23 years old, 24 years old, being the fourth option on (Miami) when I’m leading (Denver) every single year. I’m finding my way in this league,” Anthony said. “You want me to leave that and go be a fourth option. I don’t know how, mentally, I was going to be ready for that.”

Though a championship was denied to him, Anthony still managed to put up an illustrious 19-year career that featured 10 All-Star appearances and a scoring title with the Knicks in 2013. As it stands, Anthony ranks 12th in all-time NBA points with 28,289 and is one of seven men to score at least 10,000 in a Knicks uniform.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is searching for a man wanted by Cleveland Police and Marshals who frequents Cleveland and Akron.

Marshals are offering a reward for any information leading to the capture of 37-year-old Jonathan Paige.

Paige is wanted for robbery, domestic violence, abduction, vandalism and aggravated theft, according to the release.

Marshals described Paige as a six foot one inch Black man who weighs about 170 pounds.

Paige is known to frequent both the Cleveland and Akron areas, according to the release.

If you have any information contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED or visit their website at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/index.html.

Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Right-hander Pedro Avila has done the dirty work all season long for the Guardians, and everybody — including manager Stephen Vogt — has taken notice.

Since joining the club April 17 from the Padres in exchange for cash considerations, Avila has played an instrumental role in sustaining Cleveland’s bullpen success. Saturday’s 7-0 loss to San Diego was no different. Avila worked 1 1/3 innings, allowing a hit and striking out two.

But more importantly, Avila covered innings to preserve his fellow relievers in a game that eventually got out of hand with Dylan Cease limiting Cleveland to just one hit.

Manager Stephen Vogt said Avila has been tremendous for the team when pitching in length.

“When our starter hasn’t gone long, he’s been able to bridge us to the back end,” Vogt said. “He’s been able to piggyback a couple of times. Whatever we ask him to do he’s doing it, and he’s just coming in and attacking.”

Vogt said when Avila first arrived in Cleveland his strike throwing was not as consistent, but the 27-year-old made some adjustments with pitching coach Carl Willis and bullpen coach Brad Goldberg as well as the rest of the pitching group.

“Just the consistency at which he’s throwing right now, I couldn’t be more happy for Pedro,” Vogt said. “He’s been a huge, huge part of our bullpen.”

Vogt compared Avila to Jesse Chavez, a former teammate in Oakland and Atlanta who was both a starter and reliever, who pitched in leverage situations and in length, and tool the ball no matter what the score of the game was.

“It doesn’t matter the game situation, it doesn’t matter who’s coming up,” Vogt said. “You take the ball and you make your pitches. You’re going to earn more leverage, you’re going to earn more opportunities in different roles. And that’s what Pedro’s done.”

Vogt said it is a common theme among the pitchers in Cleveland’s bullpen this season. He said the guys in the ‘pen are true professionals that are willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.

“Sometimes helping the team is pitching three innings in a game where we’re getting beat,” Vogt said. “We have eight guys out there that are willing to do that. I mean, our closer (Emmanuel Clase) is willing to throw in games we’re down eight and he wants to pitch. I think when that guy’s setting that standard, everybody else falls in line.”

Boyd report

Lefty Matthew Boyd had a strong first rehab start for Double-A Akron on Sunday, tossing four innings and allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. Boyd, coming off reconstructive elbow surgery last June, signed with Cleveland late last month with a goal of pitching in the big leagues by August.

He told reporters Sunday his arm felt good after throwing 52 pitches, including 41 for strikes and topping out at 94 mph with his fastball. When asked if he had a timetable for returning to the major league mound, he deferred.

“I’m lucky I don’t have to make those decisions,” Boyd said. “I’m putting a lot of trust in the training staff and the process of building up pitch count and whatnot and those things. It’s a process and they’re the ones handling it. But all in all, I feel very good about my stuff and the way it’s coming out and the way we’re attacking hitters.”