Trainer says Melo slimmed down to lengthen career

There were several reasons behind Carmelo Anthony's decision to drop a few pounds this summer.

One of them? To make sure he’s healthy enough to play at a high level through the life of his new five-year Knicks deal.

“In anything, you get older, and getting leaner and lighter helps with the longevity of your career,” Anthony’s trainer, Idan Ravin, told ESPNNewYork.com in a phone conversation Thursday afternoon.