Source: Carmelo Anthony aims to make free-agent decision in second week of July

[Scoot26]

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony hopes to make a decision on where he will play next season in the second week of July, a source told Yahoo Sports.

Anthony opted out of his contract with the Knicks recently to become an unrestricted free agent and can begin talking to teams July 1. A source said there is currently no frontrunner for Anthony's services. He is expected to meet with the Knicks,Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. There was no mention of the Miami Heat. Anthony hopes to visit the aforementioned teams in their respective cities during the opening days of free agency. At the moment, no other teams are expected to get a meeting.

The source said Anthony loves New York and playing for the Knicks, but there are still questions surrounding the franchise. The main variables: the direction of first-year president Phil Jackson and first-year coach Derek Fisher, and how long it will take the Knicks to become a winner again. Anthony yearns to be in a winning situation now and knows he would have to be patient if he stays with the Knicks, the source said.

The Knicks can offer Anthony the longest contract and the most money at five years and $130 million compared to the four years and about $96 million Anthony would earn if he were to leave for another team. Jackson has said that he asked Anthony to potentially take a pay cut to remain with the Knicks. But the source also said Jackson only talked to Anthony about the concept of taking a pay cut and that Jackson said he would be willing to offer a maximum contract if that is what it took to re-sign Anthony. The source added that Anthony, 30, viewed opting in to the final year of his contract for $23.3 million next season without signing an extension as risky at his age.

Jackson was evasive when asked by reporters Thursday night if he would be willing to complete a sign-and-trade with Anthony if he opts to go elsewhere. The source added that the Knicks and Anthony have had no discussions about the possibility of a sign-and-trade.

Anthony could visit the Rockets and the Mavericks on the same day, the source said. Anthony has an offseason home in Los Angeles, which could make it easy to visit the Lakers. The source emphasized that the plan is to get the visits completed quickly at the start of free agency.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source--carmelo-anthony-aiming-to-make-free-agent-decision-in-second-week-of-july-172349955.html

 

[clonetrooper264]

*Expletive*

He'll probably chose somewhere else.

 

[PrideisBears]

*Expletive*

He'll probably chose somewhere else.

Where did you get this from that article?

 

[clonetrooper264]

Where did you get this from that article?

I feel like if Melo was coming here he would have decided already seeing as he has supposedly done so much research on Chicago and Thibs already. This also reminds me of 2010 where the big three went and visited us and other teams and eventually spurned us. Say what you want about them predetermining stuff, but the situation is similar.

 

[Axl Rose]

*Expletive*

thats the closest you ever got to a cus word lol

are you religious or do you just not like cussing?

 

[Scoot26]

I feel like if Melo was coming here he would have decided already seeing as he has supposedly done so much research on Chicago and Thibs already. This also reminds me of 2010 where the big three went and visited us and other teams and eventually spurned us. Say what you want about them predetermining stuff, but the situation is similar.

Legally Melo can't say he's coming here, even if he's already decided. He may also still want to hear other teams pitches as part of the FA experience. Who really knows though. Nothing will surprise me with whatever happens here. It won't surprise me if Melo signs here, in Houston, LA, or re-signs with New York. Miami and Dallas would surprise me I guess.

 

[Shepard]

I feel like if Melo was coming here he would have decided already seeing as he has supposedly done so much research on Chicago and Thibs already. This also reminds me of 2010 where the big three went and visited us and other teams and eventually spurned us. Say what you want about them predetermining stuff, but the situation is similar.

I believe Melo has a pretty good idea on where he is going, but he has to do this type of thing to get every last dollar he can regarding where he plays.

My guess is the Bulls have a team willing to take M-Dun for a 2nd Rounder and the Bulls will pull that trigger if they can secure Melo. My worry is the Bulls can only offer Melo around 15mil/year after they amnesty Boozer/trade Dun. If the Knicks offer the max deal, which they will....

I'm very very worried.

 

[clonetrooper264]

thats the closest you ever got to a cus word lol

are you religious or do you just not like cussing?

Both.

Also I find that to be far more hilarious than an actual cuss word

 

[clonetrooper264]

I believe Melo has a pretty good idea on where he is going, but he has to do this type of thing to get every last dollar he can regarding where he plays.

Yeah that's true. Also what Scoot said about him not being able to say outright that he's signing with someone right now is something I forgot about in the moment. I will hold out hope that he's going to sign with us regardless, but I just feel worried.

My guess is the Bulls have a team willing to take M-Dun for a 2nd Rounder and the Bulls will pull that trigger if they can secure Melo. My worry is the Bulls can only offer Melo around 15mil/year after they amnesty Boozer/trade Dun. If the Knicks offer the max deal, which they will....

I'm very very worried.

I've always been of the opinion that if we did get Melo it would be via S&T and that was why we bothered taking Randolph in the first place. We could ship NY all the expiring/non guaranteed contracts they like in exchange for Melo, which isn't a bad deal for them if they're looking to rebuild.

 

[JimJohnson]

I keep hearing that Boozer will amnestied. What makes anyone think the penny pinching Jerry Reinsdorf will agree to do that? Did you ask him and he said yes?

 

[Scoot26]

I keep hearing that Boozer will amnestied. What makes anyone think the penny pinching Jerry Reinsdorf will agree to do that? Did you ask him and he said yes?

Yes. He told me yesterday.

 

[czman]

If the Bulls cannot do a sign and trade they are not getting Melo. I think Melo will pick his team. If that team has to do a sign and trade, he will go to the Knicks to see if they will do a sign and trade. If they won't, he will pick a team with cap space.

My guess is, if the Bulls cannot do a sign and trade there is no way Melo is a Bull. If they can do a sign and trade there is a chance.

I don't know if the Knicks are willing to do a sign and trade or not, and I am not sure they will take Boozer unless they get a 1st.

 

[clonetrooper264]

If the Bulls cannot do a sign and trade they are not getting Melo. I think Melo will pick his team. If that team has to do a sign and trade, he will go to the Knicks to see if they will do a sign and trade. If they won't, he will pick a team with cap space.

My guess is, if the Bulls cannot do a sign and trade there is no way Melo is a Bull. If they can do a sign and trade there is a chance.

I don't know if the Knicks are willing to do a sign and trade or not, and I am not sure they will take Boozer unless they get a 1st.

Well we already know we can do a S&T so we're good on that front. It's just a matter of Melo saying he wants to come here. If we have to give them a future 1st, no problem. It'll probably be 28-30 anyway if we get Melo.

 

[czman]

Well we already know we can do a S&T so we're good on that front. It's just a matter of Melo saying he wants to come here. If we have to give them a future 1st, no problem. It'll probably be 28-30 anyway if we get Melo.

My point, was that if the Bulls need cap space they are not going to have it.

 

[JimJohnson]

Yes. He told me yesterday.

So you're the Reinsdorf Whisperer.

 

[clonetrooper264]

My point, was that if the Bulls need cap space they are not going to have it.

That's probably true. Unless we could ship away Randolph, Dunleavy, and those expirings and then amnesty Boozer. In theory that would get us enough space to give Melo his money.

 

[clonetrooper264]

That's probably true. Unless we could ship away Randolph, Dunleavy, and those expirings and then amnesty Boozer. In theory that would get us enough space to give Melo his money.

Bah...cap holds though. Not sure how those play into it

 

[DCguy]

Carmelo said last summer that he wanted to be a free agent because he wanted to be recruited . So this is no surprise.

 

[Scoot26]

So you're the Reinsdorf Whisperer.

Mmhmm.

In any case, he paid Skiles to go away.

 

[JimJohnson]

Mmhmm.

In any case, he paid Skiles to go away.

He did.. I'm just not sure I see him doing it now, with Boozer. I mean, the Bulls don't have any trouble selling tickets to their games. They're getting to the playoffs. He makes business decisions and I think he'd have a hard time swallowing this.