Tim Hardaway Jr. Says He Wants Carmelo Anthony To Stay With Knicks

Uncertainty surrounded All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony’s future as a New York Knick since the offseason, as he could get traded soon. The Knicks signed shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. last week and was vocal about the trade rumors: He wanted the All-Star forward to stay.

The Knicks guard, who apparently had a friendship with Anthony during his previous stretch with the team, wanted to play with the All-Star forward next season. "Its an odd feeling," he said, knowing that Anthony may leave.

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"Yes, we definitely want him back, no question," Hardaway said during a meeting at Knicks youth camp Monday. "Just having that veteran leader out there on the floor, a go-to guy who can get you a bucket any given moment of the game, it's great."

He continued, "It's great to have that. You want to have that. It'll be tough for him to leave. But like I say, he has to do what's best for him and his family."

League sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Monday that the four-year $71 million contract Hardaway signed is anticipated to reboot trade talks with the Houston Rockets that included Anthony. The Rockets have been diligent and tried to spark a trade with the Knicks. Those same sources told EPSN that the Knicks hadn't pictured Hardaway and Anthony on the court together next season.

The Knicks looked to move the veteran forward and build with younger players, like Hardaway, Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez and their first-round draft pick Frank Ntilikina, all of whom are 25 or younger. Steve Mills, the Knicks’ general manager who will be involved in any subsequent trades, spoke highly of Hardaway and what the young guard could bring to the team.

"As a versatile wing whose game continues to improve, [Hardaway] will fit right into the core of players that make up a roster emphasizing youth, athleticism, accountability and unselfishness," Mills said.

Hardaway said he was "happy, excited and overwhelmed" about his homecoming with the Knicks, the team that drafted him in 2013. He thought being reunited with the team was a longshot.

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"I'm not going to lie. I did think about it. Everything happens for a reason. When I got the call I was very, very happy. I was excited," Hardaway said. "It was another opportunity. With me being an older, more mature person, (I'm) taking this very very serious."

He added, "They loved how I competed on both ends of the floor, they saw the energy I gave and it was a great feeling just to hear all of that. They said straight up you have to obviously improve a lot more on defense and improve a lot more on the offensive end. So you can never settle."