Speculations abound that New York Knicks president Phil Jackson is keen on giving interim head coach Kurt Rambis the full-time job next season, but team leader Carmelo Anthony wants former Cavs coach David Blatt to be an option as well. The nine-time All-Star also said that he still intends to stay with the Knicks next season even after a third consecutive season out of the playoffs.

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The New York Post's Marc Berman cited a source as saying that the 31-year-old veteran "believes" in Blatt because the Israeli-American has a "vast international experience before joining the Cavaliers", which could benefit the development of Knicks' young star Kristaps Porzingis in the long run.

The report also said that Anthony thinks Blatt will be able to grow Porzingis as an All-Star "quicker" than Rambis ever could because of the latter's "international touch".

The 7-foot-3 Latvian big man is said to be turned off by the way Rambis utilized him when he took over from Derek Fisher during the recent regular season. Porzingis went without a double-double in his first 12 games with Jackson's triangle offense protégé, which is an indication that the two are not harmonious with one another.

Reports were out that Anthony was adamant that he should be consulted about the Knicks' ongoing head coaching hunt as he told Jackson to "broaden his search" for the team's next chief bench tactician. It is not clear, though, that the former NBA scoring champion was suggesting Blatt to be Jackson's choice.

There were also rumors that Anthony is worried Jackson will settle for the status quo and choose Rambis, although the 13-year veteran "likes and respects" the former Minnesota Timberwolves head coach even with "reservations".

However, through everything, Anthony said that he is set to stay with the Knicks next season, NBC Sports reported.

Despite the uncertainty in the coaching search, free-agency, and the speed of Porzingis' development, he told reporters in an interview that he will "absolutely" play for New York in 2016-2017.

Anthony noted during his season-ending interview that there was no discussion about him "leaving or wanting to leave" the Knicks at the moment. He also said that he did not "put a timetable on that", referring to when he is finally going to request a trade.

TagsNBA News & Rumors, NBA News & Rumors 2016, Knicks news & rumors, carmelo anthony, new york knicks