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Report: Carmelo Anthony may take less than the max; stay with Knicks

Brad Penner / USA Today Sports

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Making sense of the Carmelo Anthony free agency rumour merry-go-round is becoming increasingly difficult with each passing pitch meeting and possibility, but there appears to be a chance that he stays put where he is and makes a sacrifice to do so. 

After meeting with the Knicks on Friday, Anthony reportedly has had all of his concerns satisfied by Phil Jackson and the team's brass, leaving New York standing as the favorites to keep their star according to Marc Berman of the New York Post

Despite the rumour that Jackson assured Anthony he would be offered the max if he so desired, Berman posits that a pay cut in the second year of a new contract is a plausible scenario to satisfy both sides. 

One scenario would be Anthony starting at the max $22.4 million, but taking a 7.5 percent pay reduction in Year 2, as allowed by the collective bargaining agreement. That reduced salary for the 2015-16 season would give the Knicks a little more cap space next summer.

Jackson has said he prefers for Anthony to take less than the max to give him more salary-cap flexibility in 2015 and 2016 to sign free agents.

Anthony's frustration at the Knicks' 37-45 season was palpable at times, and it appears the team has let Anthony know that building a more substantial core around him is something he can have a direct say in by sacrificing for the common good. 

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