Carmelo Anthony Sweepstakes: Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks in Lead
Carmelo Anthony still wants to be traded, no surprise there, but the teams that are supposedly on the top of his wish list are the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks, according to sources.
The Bulls have some appealing parts to offer the Nuggets. Luol Deng can be offered as a replacement at small forward and young, promising forwards James Johnson & Taj Gibson have been rumored to possible be part of a possible package for Carmelo. Meanwhile the Knicks do not have much assets to offer Denver but hey, it's New York. With Eddy Curry's contract expiring after the season, the Knicks will have cap room and have expressed interest in pursuing 'Melo if he becomes a free agent after the season.ย
Anthony would like to be traded before the signing due to uncertainty in the future of the Nuggets. Coach George Karl is entering the final year of his contract and is returning from his second battle with cancer.ย Forward Kenyon Martinย and guards J.R. Smithย and Arron Afflaloย will be free agents after this season and center Nene could join them if he opts out of the final year of his contract. Chauncey Billups could also be leaving due to Denver is obligatedย to pay only $3.7 million of his $14.2 million salary for 2011-12 if heโs waived at the end of the season.
Anthony also rejected a three year $65 million contract extension and new Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri has not had a face-to-face meeting with Anthony since he was hired on Aug. 31.
If I were Carmelo, I would want to go to the Bulls over the Knicks. Why? Because the Bulls have more pieces in place, a franchise point guard in Derrick Rose, a very good power forward in free agent signee Carlos Boozer and budding center Joakin Noah and would be closer to winning a title with Chicago then with the Knicks.
The Clippers, Nets, and Rockets have also expressed interest in acquiring Anthony.ย
