NBA Free Agents 2014 Rumors: Ex-Teammate Believes Carmelo Anthony Will Leave New York Knicks; Has Bulls, Clippers, Lakers On Short List

A former teammate of Carmelo Anthony believes that the All-Star forward will leave the New York Knicks when he becomes a free agent next summer.

In an interview with New York Daily News, the former teammate, whose identity was not revealed, confidently said that Anthony will bolt out of New York, knowing that he cannot win an NBA title with the team in the near future.

"I think he's leaving. I've played with Melo for a long time and he knows he can't win here. At this stage, all he wants to do is win. That's why he'll leave," Anthony's former teammate said.

The Knicks are having a nightmare of a season after showing a lot of promise last year when they finished second to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings with their 54-28 record.

Slowed down by injuries and conflicts within the team, the Knicks currently hold the second-worst record in the East, 9-21, and things are not getting any better for them, New York losing in four of their last five games.

The Knicks were defeated in their last three games by an average margin of 18.7 points, which includes a 29-point blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Christmas day.

"This is not how I envisioned it," Anthony said, referring to his goal of winning a title when he forced the Denver Nuggets to trade him to the Knicks during the 2010-11 NBA season.

The New York Post also reported that Anthony will decide to sign elsewhere next summer because of his uncertain future with the Knicks in terms of winning.

An unnamed source said that Anthony saw how the fans heckled former Knick Stephon Marbury when he watched the game against the Thunder, and the way the fans treated the former star point guard could affect the 29-year-old superstar's decision-making in the offseason.

"He saw Marbury get heckled by some fans on Christmas," the source said. "He doesn't want to be the next Marbury. He's very sensitive."

The report suggested that Anthony will consider signing with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, or Los Angeles Lakers instead of returning for another tour of duty with the Knicks.

Anthony could stay with the Knicks though, but only if they can present a solid plan to the 11-year-veteran such as acquiring another superstar like Rajon Rondo or Kevin Love in 2015.