Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in contention

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Well that's not ideal.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

• The Bulls are emboldened by their options and flexibility heading into the draft and free agency, and the No. 1 reason just happens to be their most important piece of the puzzle: Derrick Rose. Rose is playing 5-on-5 on a daily basis, and, according to one witness, "looks like the old Derrick Rose." So much of the Bulls' future is tied to the former MVP regaining his form and health, but the team's focus now is getting him some help.

Chicago is open to moving one of its first-round picks, and a league source confirmed the club has had conversations with Orlando about a trade for Arron Afflalo. It would take a major shakeup -- amnestying or trading Carlos Boozer and trading Taj Gibson -- but the Bulls are well-positioned to make room for a much bigger catch: Knicks free agent Carmelo Anthony. With the Rockets needing to dump Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin to make room for Anthony, the Bulls could have the inside track if the Knicks' superstar decides he wants to move on. If the Bulls feel good about their chances of landing Anthony, they could move both of their picks to create room -- or dangle one in sign-and-trade talks with New York, which badly needs future assets. In addition to the 16th and 19th pick in this draft, the Bulls have Sacramento's 1-10 protected pick next year and the right to swap with Cleveland. If the Bulls use their pick at 16, they have long favored four-year college players; Shabazz Napier fits that bill, and also would fill a need with D.J. Augustin hitting the free-agent market.

Read more http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer...raft-buzz-bulls-seeking-help-for-derrick-rose

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

I reckon the front office figures this pick would put some Shabazz butts in the seats.

DraftExpress has him going at #24. Maybe we could at least trade down and get him and another Viktor Krapola kind of guy to fill out the roster.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Sometimes meaningless articles tell you things of substance without the author even realizing it's telling you things of substance . . . It's not tampering because the Knicks must have given the Bulls permission to speak to Anthony. Up until you raised the issue I figured the Bulls had to kind of fly blind in the draft and hope they picked the tight assets to acquire Anthony in free agency. That's not right is it?

The Bulls are negotiating with Anthony now. He's still a Knick and there's no reason they have to wait until the beginning of free agency. Though it's a bad sign that they haven't already signed him right? Unless maybe they're waiting for certain dominoes yo fall on draft day.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Maybe the hold up is Chicago waiting to see what LeBron will do.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Two questions:

Why would the Knicks give him permission to talk to anyone at all? I wouldn't give him permission, that would weaken my bargaining position with him.

If he's got permission, why hasn't he been in the Chairman's box at White Sox games? Or even in Chicago for that matter.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

I agree that it's tampering, but Cowley says that Thibodeau is using "back channels" to communicate with Anthony. This is a long-standing practice that masks the tampering. However, no one in Bulls' management can be seen directly communicating with Anthony. It gets a little fuzzier communicating with the player's agent particularly if your team has a player represented by that agent.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

The Bulls are leaking their intent through their mouthpiece columnists. They could leak something like they made a trade offer to the Knicks to indicate interest. Tho they did that with Love and they don't really seem interested.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Yeah, they're certainly using Aggrey and K.C., but also some other "NBA sources."

Despite all of the flap, I remain skeptical...I'll be surprised if Anthony doesn't end up staying a Knick on a max contract.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

http://www.blogabull.com/2014/6/22/...armelo-anthony-and-bulls-recruiting-eachother

And indeed, KC Johnson reported that the Knicks have 'no interest' in taking Boozer. And that Anthony wants a "a maximum or near-maximum offer". And that the Bulls (nor Anthony, according to his source) don't want to deal Gibson to free up cap space. Aggrey Sam reported something very similar, indicating while there is interest on both sides, Anthony isn't "fixated on coming to Chicago as his only option".

Overall, there is also sort of an impasse, here. The Bulls have to make themselves able to sign Anthony outright in order to leverage sign-and-trade talks with the Knicks. However, Anthony wants things on his terms too, 'playing for a winner' (whatever that means) be damned. Our wacky old uncle Mitch Lawrence figures this Bulls pursuit is all Anthony's way to get the Knicks to offer him more money, which would not be surprising.

[Lawrence also reports Derrick Rose prefers Kevin Love. And really, if you need to move Taj Gibson make other moves to free up the space to sign Melo to a huge contract, might as well try and focus all those efforts on Love too.]

The Bulls usually want everything on their terms, which maybe was why we just started hearing backup plans yesterday. Selling Anthony on not only playing in Chicago, but for a discount, seems very unlikely.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Selling Anthony on playing anywhere for a discount seems very unlikely. He seems to me to be the type who likes to talk about winning being the most important thing, but isn't inclined to walk that talk.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks' best player, has decided to opt out his contract to become a free agent this summer, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Anthony submitted a formal letter this weekend, stating he intends to exercise the early-termination clause in his deal, forgoing the one year and $23.5 million left on his contract, according to the person. In doing so, the 30-year-old star forward becomes the biggest name to join this summer's free-agent market—for now, at least.

The Chicago Bulls appear to be the clubhouse favorite to land Anthony, who said just days after the season that "I want to come back [to New York], but I also want to win." Anthony was rumored to have spoken with Bulls All-Star center Joakim Noah about Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau. Separately, a league source said that Anthony has gone out of his way to speak to multiple ex-Chicago wing players about Thibodeau's hard-nosed coaching style.

Above all else, the Bulls have a stellar defense that would allow Anthony, who isn't an elite defender, to focus on scoring. They don't hold maximum salary-cap space, however, meaning they likely would need to acquire Anthony through a sign-and-trade.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/knic...e-free-agent-1403463273?tesla=y&mg=reno64-wsj

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Just to be clear, while Anthony opting out is a required step for him accepting an offer from another team as a free agent, it is also a pre-requisite for him to sign a new max deal with the Knicks. All this means is that Anthony isn't interested in playing the 2014-15 season on a one-year deal for $23.3mil.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

LeBron to the Lakers. Anthony to the Heat.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Any thoughts on what each of them will be signing for? Max? Discounts?

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

As near MAX as possible.

I'd call this an outside chance to happen. If LeBron decides to opt out, why not the Lakers? They have the space and draft pick, and he and Kobe would be an interesting pair.

Miami would need someone to replace LeBron and it seems like Melo would be the best option. Plus he wouldn't have to pay state income tax.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Makes sense. I wouldn't mind seeing this happen. The Heat wouldn't worry me at all...Anthony is definitely no Lebron. A Lebron-led Lakers team would have a tough time beating the Spurs or the Thunder.

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

Chicago Bulls are willing to pay Carmelo Anthony a max salary. Chicago Bulls they don't want to trade Taj Gibson or Jimmy Butler but they will if it means landing Carmelo Anthony. Chicago Bulls front office understands they need more star power and willing to pay Carmelo Anthony a max salary. Chicago Bulls are going to do whatever they can to land Carmelo Anthony

Source: Nick Friedell http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/19512/bulls-covet-anthony-but-money-a-question

 

Re: Sources: Carmelo Anthony leaning toward leaving Knicks; Bulls, Rockets in content

New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony's agent Leon Rose has issued a statement saying Melo has officially opted out.

Source: Al Iannazzone

 

Bulls are best career move for Melo

Video: Chicago Bulls are the best career move for Carmelo Anthony
Article: Jon Greenberg

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/11123594/carmelo-anthony-right-fit-chicago-bulls