The New York Knicks have been the most disappointing team in the NBA this year, finishing in ninth place with a record of 37-45.  This is the same team that last season finished with the second best seed in the Eastern Conference, winning 54 games and reaching the Eastern Conference Semifinals before falling to the Indiana Pacers. That season seems like a distant memory now and much has changed. Mike Woodson is most likely on his way out of Madison Square Garden. The Knicks do not have a first round draft pick this year. But the biggest distraction of all has been the decision by Carmelo Anthony to test the costless-agent market.

The Knicks owner James Dolan went out and attained Phil Jackson to try to build a winning team again. Some consider that a desperation move by Dolan to try to convince Anthony to stay with the organization.

However, is keeping Anthony in New York best for the future?

Carmelo Anthony is in the prime of his career and had a fantastic season to follow up on his scoring title last season.  Anthony is averaging 27.5 points per game and a career high 8.2 rebounds per game. His 40.4 three point percentage is the second highest in his career and he is playing 38 minutes a game. If Anthony decides to go elsewhere the Knicks may be better off.

If Carmelo Anthony decides to return the Knicks team will not look much different next year. Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, and Andrea Bargnani are all returning, along with Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith. This will leave the Knicks with about zero cap space and as mentioned before they do not have a first round draft pick. The Knicks won't win a title with the same roster they had this past year which makes next year look hopeless already. That means Anthony will have to wait for the 2015-2016 to be paired with another superstar in New York.

If Anthony leaves that will give Phil Jackson a clean slate where he can rebuild the culture of the organization. Stoudemire, Chandler, and Bargnani will be costless agents in 2015. J.R. Smith and Raymond Felton have a player option for 2015. Although many are against it, tanking seems like the best move for the organization. The Knicks will then be able to grab a high draft pick, trade away some players, and convince J.R. Smith and Raymond Felton they are not a part of the future.

The Knicks would then be in position to rebuild the team with some great young talent such as Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. This would leave the Knicks with a boatload of cap space to get new players in costless agency. Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge are both costless agents in the year 2015 those are two big names the Knicks can target. Point guards Rajon Rondo and Kyrie Irving are both costless agents as well. Without Anthony, the Knicks can build a title contender.