Carmelo Anthony Of New York Knicks Will Be Free Agent Next Year; Will He Stay In New York Or Move To Los Angeles?

Perhaps the biggest catch next only to Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony has already declared that he will be a free agent.

On the conditions of his contract, he can exercise a player option at the end of this season. Thus, he will become an unrestricted free agent and sign with a new contract with any team.

Any team, including the New York Knicks themselves. In fact, if Carmelo chooses to re-sign with the Knicks, he can a longer contract at a higher amount. This is a condition stipulated on the most recent collective bargaining agreement.

According to ESPN.com, as a free agent, he would be able to sign a five-year, $129.1 million deal with the Knicks, or a four-year, $95.9 million contract with another team. These conditions were meant to prevent free agents from leaving their current team. The difference of an extra secure year and almost $34 million is hard to ignore.

For Anthony's part, nothing is sure but New York is a priority. In an interview with the New York Observer:

"I want to be a free agent. I think everybody in the NBA dreams to be a free agent at least one time in their career. It's like you have an evaluation period, you know. It's like if I'm in the gym and I have all the coaches, all the owners, all the GMs come into the gym and just evaluate everything I do. So yes, I want that experience."

"I came to New York for a reason. I've been with you all my life, almost to a fault. I wanted to come here and take on the pressures of playing in New York. So one thing I would tell my fans: If you haven't heard it from me, then it ain't true."