NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony to consider Bulls, Mavs, Rockets
By Jacob Rude
After the unlikely possibility of the Big Three in Miami opting out, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony will be the highest-profile name on the free agency market this summer. While Anthony is undecided whether to opt-out of his contract with the Knicks, the list of teams he’ll consider joining is already being formed. According to Marc Stein of ESPN, he’ll listen to offers from three playoff teams from last season:
"The Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks are all teams Anthony would consider starting July 1, sources say, if the 30-year-old decides to become a free agent this summer."
Only the Mavericks would be able to offer ‘Melo the max contract without making any other moves. For both Chicago and Houston, either a sign-and-trade or a separate trade to clear cap space would be necessary in order to sign Anthony.
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Chicago and Houston would offer Anthony the more instant “win-now” teams, with the Rockets likely pairing him with James Harden and Dwight Howard. With Chicago, their fate may lie on the likelihood of Derrick Rose returning healthy, as the former MVP paired with Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah and big man Taj Gibson. With Dallas, Mark Cuban and the Mavericks present the opportunity to build a title-contending team with Dirk Nowitzki at the end of his career.
There is still the possibility, however, that Anthony could return to the Knicks. In the same article, Stein talked about Phil Jackson’s pitch to ‘Melo.
"Jackson’s pitch to Anthony — which sources say he has delivered more than once over the past month — is founded upon the notion that the Knicks will have increased financial flexibility in the summer of 2015 to bring in a marquee free agent to pair with a re-signed Anthony."
What do you think, will Carmelo remain in New York?