NBA Rumors: Joakim Noah still recruiting Carmelo Anthony to Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls’ center Joakim Noah has made it clear that he wants New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony to join the Bulls this offseason.

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Noah has reportedly been recruiting Anthony to join the Bulls and has been doing so for some time. Noah understands that adding Anthony, one of the league’s elite scorers, to a team that consistently plays excellent defense but struggles to score could be exactly what the Bulls need to put them over the top. If the Bulls can get Derrick Rose at least somewhat healthy and hold on to other pieces like Noah and Taj Gibson, they would certainly be a legitimate contender to dethrone the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference.

To acquire Anthony, the Bulls will likely need him to take a pay cut or find a way to work out a sign-and-trade with the Knicks.

That, however, has not stopped Noah from recruiting Anthony, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.

"Only Anthony knows for sure. He’s the one who would have to leave money on the table to leave the Knicks. This is for sure: The Bulls will get in the game. I’d say it remains a long shot despite Noah’s consistent recruiting efforts, which lately have included getting Anthony to use the same osteopath who helped cure Noah’s plantar fasciitis. But Knicks president Phil Jackson has said he hopes Anthony takes a pay cut to re-sign with the Knicks, so that doesn’t sound like an executive willing to hand Anthony the full $129 million he could receive. As with all things free agency, stay tuned."

Anthony averaged 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season.

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