The Melo story: 5 wrong turns in Carmelo Anthony's career

#4 Electing to stay with the Knicks in 2014

New York Knicks v Houston Rockets

Having already failed at making the playoffs with the Knicks in the previous season as New York finished 37-45, Anthony stood at a real crossroads in his career after opting out of the final year of his 4-year deal with the Knicks in the summer of 2014.

It must have been abundantly clear to him that he had no shot at title contention after 3 years with the franchise. But Melo took the decision to spurn the possibility of joining the Houston Rockets with Dwight Howard and James Harden, as well as that of joining Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler with the Bulls.

He signed a 5-year contract with the Knicks and failed to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference in any of his 3 seasons with that franchise thereafter.