PRESSURE ON KNICKS TO ADD ANOTHER SCORER AS MELO DOWNPLAYS BUT SYRACUSE COACH BOEHEIM EXPOSES THE PROBLEMS

CARMELO ANTHONY

Carmelo Anthony agrees with the sentiment of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim regarding the state of the Knicks’ roster — he needs help.
According to a source, Anthony has told a confidant he is concerned management will stand pat this offseason and said he believes the team needs to add a bona fide secondary scorer for the Knicks to take the next step and win a championship.
The source said Anthony, who turns 29 today, loves combo guard Iman Shumpert, 22, and projects him as a superstar, but not for two seasons. The source also said Anthony privately wishes the club will add a significant piece to the roster and not be status quo.
Boeheim’s remarks last week criticizing the roster’s strength hit home with Anthony, who values his former coach’s evaluations.

Anthony, rehabbing a small tear in his left shoulder that may have hampered him vs. Indiana, has an opt-out clause after next season, making the 2013-14 campaign pivotal regarding his future decisions. Under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, the Knicks and Anthony can agree to an extension in mid-February — the third anniversary of his last extension.

Anthony originally lobbied to come to the Knicks in 2010-11 to play alongside All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire, but injuries have haunted Stoudemire’s New York stint. Knicks officials said they believe Stoudemire may be put on a minutes restriction next season, too, limiting his impact.

General manager Glen Grunwald said last week the team will try to be “creative’’ and “aggressive’’ with the roster but said the major core would return.
Boeheim, who coached Anthony at Syracuse, was critical of the Knicks’ roster in a Syracuse newspaper after they were eliminated in the second round by the Pacers in six games. Boeheim said it wasn’t Anthony’s fault and the Knicks don’t have second, third and fourth options on offense who are strong enough to support Anthony.

Asked if the Knicks could win a title with Anthony, Boeheim said, “Not with this team.’’
With Stoudemire injured most of the season, the Knicks’ second option was Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith, a free agent the Knicks intend to re-sign but who has not been a reliable playoff performer.

COACH JIM BOEHEIM & CARMELO ANTHONY

The third option was point guard Raymond Felton. Smith shot 33 percent in the playoffs and Felton scored just two points on 0-for-7 shooting in the series-ending Game 6 loss at Indiana. The Knicks shot just 41 percent in the playoffs, averaging a meager 88.6 points.
Grunwald brushed off Boeheim’s critique last week.

“He’s obviously very loyal to Melo,” Grunwald said. “So I understand where his comments came from.’’
“A lot of people think I said it because I’m a Melo fan,” Boeheim told reporters yesterday. “But I’m just being objective as a basketball head coach who watches 60 Knicks games a year. ’’

Boeheim said yesterday Anthony made Smith and Felton better than they are because of the attention he draws from the defense. But that wasn’t enough vs. Indiana.
The Pacers will get better next season with the return of Danny Granger, and the Bulls, who were 4-0 vs. the Knicks, will get back 2010-11 NBA MVP Derrick Rose. Boeheim said yesterday the Knicks are a solid 50-win team next season but not good enough to win the East.

Anthony was diplomatic and politically correct with the media nine days ago on Trash Bag Day. He stressed a need to get better but was typically vague and indicated he wouldn’t interfere unless summoned.

Asked what the roster needs, Anthony said, “It’s hard to say. I don’t want to jump the gun and say we need this or need that. Let the front office evaluate that. If they want my input, they know how to contact me.’’

The roadblock to the Knicks making a major move is they are not permitted to do a sign-and-trade for a free agent this season to go after point guard Chris Paul because they are over the luxury-tax threshold. Grunwald would need to make a move via a regular trade, with center Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Shumpert and Steve Novak as potential pawns if the GM is so inclined.

“It’s a team game, team sport,’’ Anthony said last week. “At the end of the day, as face of the team, it comes down to me. I accept that. We got to get better as a team and as a unit. We will look at this offseason and see what we got to do to make this team better. I wouldn’t put that pressure on myself to say I have to do it on my own. We as a team will get better and be better next year.’’