GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Carmelo Anthony's contract situation will be a big topic of conversation around the New York Knicks this season.
But Anthony himself won't be talking about it.
"I'm not going to go through the season thinking about my contract. There's really no need to at this point. There's no need to talk about it," said Anthony, who can opt out of his contract and test free agency after this season. "When that time comes, I'll deal with it. Until then, my focus is really on being here, being a Knick, doing what I have to do to, hopefully, win a championship."
Anthony has two years remaining on his current contract but can opt out of the final season, worth $23.3 million.
Anthony can make more money as a free agent than he can by finishing his current contract. He also can make more money if he re-signs with the Knicks instead of another suitor.
If he chooses to opt out and sign with another team, he can sign a four-year contract worth $95,897,372, according to calculations by ESPN salary-cap expert Larry Coon. If Anthony opts out and re-signs with the Knicks, he can sign a five-year contract worth $129,135,806.
Those numbers are based on the assumption Anthony, one of the top scorers in the NBA, will sign a max contract.
Knicks president and general manager Steve Mills said Monday that New York has "every intention" of keeping Anthony beyond this season.
"The things that he has done to make this team successful and to represent this city is something that's very important," Mills said. "While it is premature in the process, we have made it very clear we have every intention of making Carmelo a Knick for a long time to come."
The Knicks can begin negotiating an extension with Anthony in February.
If Anthony remains in New York, he'll continue to play under coach Mike Woodson. The team announced it has picked up the option on Woodson's contract for the 2014-15 season.
On Monday, Anthony was asked what else the Knicks need to do to ensure he remains with the organization.
"I think that's a different conversation for a different time for different people," Anthony said. "Right now I feel there's no need to even talk about that or address that because it's not something I've been thinking about."
ESPN.com reported over the summer that the Lakers would target Anthony and LeBron James in the summer of 2014 if both stars decide to explore free agency.
Many teams with requisite cap space probably would have interest in the 29-year-old Anthony, who led the league in scoring this past season with 28.7 points per game.
Anthony arrived in New York in a blockbuster trade in 2011 and helped lead the Knicks to their first playoff series win in eight seasons this past spring. Some have speculated that Anthony would strongly consider leaving New York if the team failed to advance beyond the second round in 2013-14.
Anthony, though, declined to elaborate Monday when asked what he thought a successful season would be for the Knicks.
"I'm not going to put that pressure on myself or our guys to say that it's championship or bust," Anthony said. "I don't want to put a cap on what's a successful season or what's a failure [of a] season for us."
