It has been almost four and a half years since Arron Afflalo and Carmelo Anthony split up and now both players hope that their connection can spark some positive results for the New York Knicks.
Afflalo had already signed on with the Knicks for two years with a $16 million contract after spending his last season with the Portland Trailblazers. It will be a reunion between the two players who played together for about one and a half year before Anthony left.
Although he reportedly denies it, it seems that Anthony had a hand in the recruitment of Afflalo. Anthony was apparently among the aggressive recruiters for the Knicks in the offseason. But when the Knicks star was asked if he recruited his former teammate, Anthony simply said no along with a laugh.
Afflalo's arrival comes as a consolation of sorts after the team failed to contend for the top free agents this season. Other than that, there is a lingering issue involving Kristaps Porzingis, although it seems that damage control is now being done.
Besides, Porzingis seems to have wowed Knick fans when he debuted in the NBA Summer League so all the questions surrounding the Latvian player should be put to rest soon.
Other than Afflalo and Porzingis, also coming on board are Robin Lopez, Derrick Williams and Kyle O'Quinn. The Knicks believe that their rebuilding phase is going according to plan even though many still see the team lacking in manpower to be considered a contender.
And much of the attention will surely be on the former teammates Afflalo and Anthony who are expected to have no problems adjusting to each other's style of play. They had a connection when they were playing for Denver Nuggets before so there seems to be no reason for them to not pick up where they last left off.
On whether that would be enough to get the Knicks up there in the playoff picture remains to be seen although Phil Jackson and head coach Derek Fisher may have some aces up their sleeves that people are not seeing.
