Jennings: Carmelo trade rumors 'took a toll' on Knicks
It was difficult for the New York Knicks to focus on the on-court product when the immediate future of the team's best player was very much in doubt.
That's how Brandon Jennings - now with the Washington Wizards - remembers his run in the Big Apple this season, acknowledging that the constant trade rumors surrounding Carmelo Anthony were emotionally draining for the star and his teammates.
"It definitely took a toll, I think, on the team. Because it wasn't even about basketball anymore, it was more about what was going on with Melo," Jennings said following Washington's narrow 106-103 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, according to ESPN's Ian Begley.
Jennings went on to add that while it was "cool" playing alongside him, the pressure Anthony had to deal with - including his sour relationship with team president Phil Jackson - was clearly overwhelming, creating one of the more dysfunctional environments Jennings has been part of since entering the league in 2009.
"I think it was just a roller coaster, an emotional roller coaster for him this year with everything he had to deal with, which isn't fair," Jennings said.
He told New York Daily News' Daniel Popper, "It was like a two-week span, where…everybody was hitting your phone. theScore, Bleacher Report, everything was hitting your phone about Melo leaving. "
The Knicks shopped Anthony to a number of teams ahead of the Feb. 23 trade deadline, but would have needed him to waive a clause in his contract in order to be able to send him packing. Jackson attempted to get his franchise star to do just that, but Anthony remained adamant that he wanted to continue competing in the Big Apple. However, he would have willingly accepted a trade had New York sought to begin a rebuild.
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The Knicks waived Jennings in a mutual agreement days after the deadline, as the 27-year-old was looking to latch onto a playoff team during a contract year.
He scored four points on 1-of-5 shooting in 19 minutes off the bench against his former team Thursday.