Carmelo Anthony spoke openly about his wish for the Knicks to acquire Chris Paul, who will be a free agent in 2012.

"If it works out and he comes here and they allow him to come here, you'll see a smile from ear to ear," Anthony said during an appearance in Greenwich Village. "It's not just me. It's everybody [in New York]. If he decides to leave New Orleans and goes somewhere else, they'll be feeling the same way I'm feeling."

The Knicks could have enough cap space to sign him depending on what happens with the NBA's new salary cap.

Anthony has grown closer to Paul this summer and have played together during exhibition games.

Anthony acknowledged Paul has spent a lot of time in New York during the lockout, and not just because he's one of the negotiating committee members.

"He spent a lot of time here last year too but people weren't hearing about it because there was a lot of [other stuff] going on," Anthony said. "But we don't talk about [the Knicks]. . . . I'm not one to blow smoke up your [butt]. If I was talking to Chris about coming to New York, I'd tell you. It's a sensitive situation for him. I stay away from it and we have fun."