Carmelo Anthony on Knicks: 'I've got to trust in the plan'

When Carmelo Anthony decided to re-sign with the New York Knicks for five years this offseason, he said he didn't believe the team was too far away from contention.

Fast-forward six months and Anthony is once again being put in the position of answering questions about rebuilding. The Knicks have now dealt a pair of their better players for little more than flexibility, sit at the bottom of the league's standings at 5-32 and have their fanbase paying closer attention to Duke games than Knicks ones.

With another year of his prime lost at age 30, Anthony, who could be shut down for the season at any time, is trying to maintain the long view. That means, as reported by Ian Begley of ESPN, keeping faith in president Phil Jackson, who had a large hand in keeping Anthony in Gotham:

I've got to trust in what's happening. I've got to trust in the plan that they're trying to put in place.

I kind of knew that it was going to be kind of a rebuilding situation. But to be in the situation that we're in now from a record standpoint, I couldn't imagine this in a long time.

When I first committed back to New York, that was something I always said: I had to trust that them guys know what they're doing and believe in them guys. And that was one of the reasons I wanted to come back.

It's surely a tough spot for Anthony, who may believe in the bigger picture in New York but be frustrated with the short-term outlook. If his goal isn't a first-round playoff exit, a season with a valley this low may be necessary, as the Knicks have to try to find and develop players while clearing the books and, yes, land a top pick to help build for the future.

The franchise has won just a single playoff series since 1999-2000 and have gone 146-148 with Anthony riding mostly solo over four-plus seasons. 

If the plan is to eventually find him more help, what choice does he have but to trust?