In the aftermath of declaring his intention to become a free agent in 2014, New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony said he's not expecting a phone call from Kobe Bryant to pitch signing with the Los Angeles Lakers - it's illegal.
Anthony is set to become one of the bigger free agent names for 2014. He had been noncommittal about his plans for the summer until Wednesday, when he told the New York Observer he will opt out of his contract after the season.
"I want to be a free agent," Anthony said. "I think everybody in the NBA dreams to be a free agent at least one time in their career. It's like you have an evaluation period, you know. It's like if I'm in the gym and I have all the coaches, all the owners, all the GMs come into the gym and just evaluate everything I do.
"So yes, I want that experience."
The Lakers are expected to pursue Anthony in the summer. Given the team's salary cap space in 2014, Los Angeles has the room to sign Anthony and another big-name free agent.
Anthony, however, doesn't expect a phone call from Bryant about this coming summer.
"I think Kobe respects me as a ballplayer, as a person, as a friend," Anthony told ESPN. "So I don't think none of them phone calls will be coming in."
ESPN points out it'd also be illegal if Bryant contacted Anthony. Under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, any player who tries to sway another player under contract into signing with another team is in violation of the NBA's tampering policy.
Anthony has said his focus will remain on the upcoming season with the Knicks. He also didn't rule out signing a new contract with New York, which can sign him to a max five-year, $129 million contract.
"It's definitely an opportunity that I'm willing to explore and experience," Anthony said of free agency. "That not whatsoever means that I'm not coming back to New York or I don't want to be here in New York. So I don't want nobody to get that impression."
Anthony is eligible to terminate his contract with New York in July 2014.
