By Jose Serrano (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Sep 01, 2015 08:55 AM EDT
Tags New York Knicks, New York Knicks news, New York Knicks rumors, Carmelo Anthony, phil jackson

Carmelo Anthony is upset.

Not because of nagging injuries, or his New York Knicks' stagnancy in signing big-name free agents. He doesn't even seem bothered by team president Phil Jackson routinely making bloviated statements about their roster, often undermining players who used to don orange and blue.

No, Anthony is upset because the media notices.

"Especially in the offseason, it's just a matter of everybody trying to get a story; everybody trying to get a byte. It frustrates me because I have to sit back and I have to read all this and look at all this and I don't say anything, I stay to myself in the offseason," Anthony said during a recent Team USA Q&A. "And I always look and it's always a different topic. It's always a different story. One day it's me and Phil [Jackson], one day it's me and Fish [Derek Fisher], one day it's me and [Kristaps] Porzingis. It's always something."

Anthony is in the second of a five-year, $124 million contract extension signed last summer; one he took below market value to give the Knicks financial flexibility, though it does include a full no-trade clause and early termination option after four seasons.

New York came into the summer with about $25 million to spend. Derrick Williams - the Sacramento Kings' burnout who averaged eight points and just under three boards per game last season- was arguably the biggest haul, agreeing to a generous two-year, $10 million deal.

According to Jackson, Williams isn't a bust. He's just been hindered by "several factors."

"From the start of his pro career, being the second overall draft pick has been like an albatross around his neck, something that he, and lots of other people, felt a lot of pressure to live up to," Jackson said in speaking with ESPN. "I told him that right now he's an NBA player and it no longer makes any difference where he was drafted. He just has to learn how to play the game the right way."

Williams and former Trail Blazers' center Robin Lopez agreed to terms on July 3. Arron Afflalo took a two-year, $16 million offer a day earlier, stabilizing New York's back court, albeit on short-lived terms.

LaMarcus Aldridge, the highly-coveted free agent who turned his nose up to playing along Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, didn't even warrant a meeting.

The Lakers sold Aldridge on what Tinseltown could do to his brand, and Houston wooed the four-time All-Star on how he fits from an analytics standpoint. Ultimately, he elected on making Alamo City his home, not just because the Spurs have an everlasting recipe for success, but because head coach Gregg Popovich and Tim "the Big Fundamental" Duncan have more to offer academically.

The Knicks weren't having any of it. As Aldridge put it, New York gave him an ultimatum: play center or don't play here at all.

"They didn't want to meet with me," Aldridge said. "Some people said it was me. But it was both parties agreeing that we shouldn't meet."

There is logic behind New York's snobbery. Amare' Stoudemire's abhorrent contract came off the books last February and, maybe, they didn't want to fall into the same hole. Maybe they'd rather invest in rookie power forward Kristaps Porzingis, who tweeted out a video of the rapport he and Anthony are building, and a group picture of Knicks' minicamp in Puerto Rico.

If the Knicks do have a plan – which one hopes doesn’t revolve around the outdate triangle offense – Aldridge may not have been the cog to make it work. It may be better suited for a Lopez-Porzingis front court.

They’re also looking to bolster the one-spot by unloading Jose Calderon. ESPN New York’s Ian Begley reports that the Spanish point guard is on the table, he just doesn’t have any takers.

Calderon has been linked a bevy of teams and players, from Cleveland’s Matthew Dellavedova to the Clippers’ sixth-man Jamal Crawford. Neither materialized. Crawford, for his part, would rather play alongside LeBron James, according to Cleveland.com’s Chris Haynes.

And who wouldn’t? If Crawford – like Aldridge or Clippers’ center DeAndre Jordan – wanted to play for more than a paycheck, they wouldn’t bank on the Knicks. Even pie-in-the-sky dreams of landing Ricky Rubio means selling him on a rebuilding franchise. For what it’s worth, Jackson and general manager Steve Mills may hold onto Calderon until midseason when Rubio may hit the market.

Last summer, Jackson prophesied an imminent playoff run. He’s not so adamant this time around, admitting New York “may struggle early as they learn to play with each other.” The Knicks bringing it on themselves. Not by declining exorbitant contract, but by alienating those consider Madison Square Garden as a landing spot.

Anthony’s upset at the media for overt attention given to the Knicks. At one point he has to remember, the media is just calling it like they see it.

© 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.