Knicks Rumors: Anthony, Williams, O’Quinn, Fisher

Carmelo Anthony has looked like a star in his first two preseason games after knee surgery, writes Al Iannozzone of Newsday. The veteran forward, whose 2014/15 season was cut short by a damaged patella, has shot 18-for-25 while scoring 38 points in 45 minutes of action. “The most important thing is being healthy,” said Anthony, who isn’t completely finished with rehab yet. “When you’re healthy, everything kind of falls into place mentally. There’s a lot of clarity for me at this moment. I can kind of just play ball and not have to worry about ticky-tack injuries or having surgery. I can just focus on my team.”

There’s more news out of New York:

  • Derrick Williams is offering the Knicks hope that their gamble on him over the summer will pay off, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. Williams, who received a surprising two-year offer worth nearly $9MM to join the Knicks, led the team with 23 points in Friday’s win over the Wizards. Coach Derek Fisher likes the confidence he sees in Williams, who has mostly struggled since being chosen second overall in the 2011 draft. “He trusted his game,’’ Fisher said. “He didn’t think too much about what he needs to do and where he needs to be. He’s still learning offensively where he should be. But it’s basketball, and we want them to trust themselves to make plays and he did that.
  • Kyle O’Quinn, who grew up near Madison Square Garden, felt right at home during his preseason debut, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. The Knicks acquired O’Quinn during the offseason in a sign-and-trade deal with Orlando. “Being in the home locker room, putting on the white jersey, it felt good,” O’Quinn said. “My mom was there; she was happy to be there. It was a good feeling being at the Garden.”
  • Anthony tells Frank Isola of the New York Daily News that Fisher is not letting his reported altercation with Matt Barnes become a distraction. “Whatever he’s dealing with, he’s going through, he’s going on his own time,” Anthony said. “He comes in here and it’s Derek Fisher. He comes in here, he’s kind of upbeat. He’s not letting that come into our locker room. When you have that mentality as a leader, then it trickles down to everybody.”
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