NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony knows leaving is his best chance to win

Jan 3, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives the ball during the fourth quarter as Houston Rockets small forward Chandler Parsons (25) defends at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Over the weekend, a report surfaced explaining that New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony was leaning towards opting out of the final year of his deal and become a free agent.

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The Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets are expected to be the favorites to land Anthony and reportedly have a better at chance at landing Anthony than the Knicks do at this point.

According to a source of Frank Isola of he New York Daily News, Anthony would like to remain with the Knicks, but is indeed leaning towards leaving the team to join a title contender.

"The first decision Anthony needs to make is determining whether he wants to re-sign with the Knicks. According to a source, Anthony’s preference is to remain in New York but the All-Star forward is coming to the realization that his best chance to win an NBA championship would be to join another team, most likely the Bulls, Rockets or Heat.Jackson, who has sent mixed signals regarding Anthony’s impending free agency, met with Anthony on Friday in Los Angeles to sell him on the notion that the Knicks can significantly upgrade their roster next summer when they have the ability to create room under the salary cap. Anthony, however, recently turned 30, and following a season in which he failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time, he is reluctant to spend another year rebuilding."

Anthony averaged 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season and shot 45.2% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 84.8% from the free throw line.

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