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As Carmelo Anthony leans toward leaving New York, Chicago and Houston emerge as frontrunners

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by t0mdotcom, Jun 14, 2014.

  1. t0mdotcom

    t0mdotcom Member

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    UPDATE: Blog post...
    Rockets gain “significant momentum” as preferred destination for Carmelo Anthony
    http://rockets.clutchfans.net/6886/...as-preferred-destination-for-carmelo-anthony/

    <HR>

    @WojYahooNBA: As Carmelo Anthony leans toward leaving New York, Chicago and Houston emerge as free agency frontrunners.


    http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source...--bulls--rockets-in-contention-161206919.html


    New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is leaning toward leaving in pursuit of immediate championship contention, and awaits the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets to clear the necessary salary-cap space to sign him in free agency, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

    As re-signing with the Knicks continues to fade as his priority, Chicago and Houston have emerged as the clear frontrunners to acquire Anthony, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

    Anthony's meeting with Knicks officials on Friday night had little impact on his state of mind, league sources said, because there remain too many uncertainties about how quickly president Phil Jackson can reshape the team into a championship contender.

    Chicago and Houston front-office executives are working diligently on contingencies to clear the space to sign Anthony outright – or engage sign-and-trade scenarios with New York, sources said.

    "His heart is in New York," one source familiar with Anthony's thinking told Yahoo Sports, "but he wants a chance to win now."

    Jackson has turned off Anthony with his public proclamations of wanting the seven-time All-Star forward to take less money to stay with New York, league sources said.

    Around Anthony and the NBA, there's some doubt about whether Jackson truly wants to keep him on a five-year, $120 million-plus extension, or simply is giving the appearance for public relations' sake. Jackson has been somewhat cavalier in his public declarations of wanting Anthony to stay, and it's been noticed.

    Anthony has said he's willing to take less than the maximum-allowable contract, but league sources said that involves situations where he can be shown how his financial concessions can result in the immediate acquisition or retention of talent. Anthony hasn't expressed interest taking less for hypothetical signings in 2015 or '16, as New York wants him to do, sources said.

    Anthony isn't as concerned over a novice head coach in Derek Fisher, as he is a roster barren of assets and talent to move toward contention.

    Anthony, 30, has been intrigued with the chance to join the Bulls for several months, but Houston has gathered significant momentum as a preferred destination for him, league sources said.

    For Chicago to make its bid for Anthony, it will need to amnesty the contract of Carlos Boozer and unload forward Taj Gibson and at least one more player. The Bulls could enjoy an easier path to the NBA Finals than Houston, which competes in the much stronger Western Conference. Anthony has an affinity for Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, but ultimately Anthony must also weigh the future health of guard Derrick Rose in his decision.

    Houston has Dwight Howard and James Harden prepared to recruit Anthony as the third star in a championship chase. The Rockets need to shed the contracts of Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin to clear most of the space to sign Anthony to a max contract. Because those players are moving into the expiring year of their contracts, they could potentially appeal to New York in sign-and-trade scenarios that would deliver Anthony his full max contract of four years, $90 million-plus.

    In trade talks, New York has told teams it doesn't want to take on contracts beyond the summer of 2015 although Asik, a center, could ultimately be a player the Knicks would want to sign long-term. There's a market for Asik to be traded into salary-cap space elsewhere for draft considerations, but Houston may have to package a draft pick to move Lin.

    The Rockets have the flexibility to sell Anthony on a full-max contract in the range of $22 million-$23 million per year, or can offer him the chance to keep teammates like Chandler Parsons, Patrick Beverley and Terrence Jones on the roster by accepting less money on the deal. Nevertheless, most scenarios that would hold the Rockets nucleus together would still find Anthony with a starting annually salary in the range of $19 million, league sources said.

    Anthony plans to opt out of the final year of his contract – which would've paid him $23 million for next season – and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He averaged 27.4 points and 8.1 rebounds on 45 percent shooting for the Knicks last season.
     
    Os Trigonum and JoeBarelyCares like this.
  2. RedHotRockets01

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    Rocket, Bulls Are Frontrunners For 'Melo

    Apparently the Knicks didn't impress Melo. Time to send in the cavalry; we got any iPads left?
     
  3. Rockness

    Rockness Member

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    F that! No way you give up everyting just for this clown.
     
  4. IvanLCPM

    IvanLCPM Member

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    Good news. I like our chances.
     
  5. Rockets_12

    Rockets_12 Member

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    What? Lin and Asik for Melo is too much? You on crack?
     
  6. chandlerbang21

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    We can get rid of asik Lin and another contract and melo can take less than max money gettem Morey. Need a defensive coach first
     
  7. sammy

    sammy Contributing Member

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    Lol you sound like the clown
     
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  8. thiefery

    thiefery Member

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    It's happening?!
     
  9. t0mdotcom

    t0mdotcom Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    5 people like this.
  10. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Houston only fan
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    Should goto Chicago IMO
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

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    Offensively, Melo has elite level skills and would be a great fit if he is to play PF as he had for much of the last couple seasons in NY. But I wonder about the fit of adding another minus defender to the team. Another worry to me is Melo's age-- he is 30 and one has to be curious as to how well he would age over the next 4 years.

    The one way where I think he might help the defense is that by sharing playmaking duties with Harden, Harden cannot use the energy expended on offense as his excuse for playing no D. Well, that and getting Melo might enable the Rockets to trade Harden.

    Between Melo and Bosh, I think Bosh is more of a fit, but there is no guarantee of getting either anyway so Morey might as well pursue every good free agent.
     
  12. mr. 13 in 33

    mr. 13 in 33 Member

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    That's what I been saying and I hope he does because Melo would have a good coach and that can help Melos defense.
     
  13. Rocketfan94

    Rocketfan94 Member

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    Woj doesnt mention about rockets having to get rid of CP25 which would possibly mean

    BEV
    Harden
    CP25
    Melo
    Howard
     
  14. Rockness

    Rockness Member

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    Reading is a skill isn't it. Melo wants the max so say goodbye to Parsons, Bev & TJ. If he takes less, that's still a bad bench you are left with..
     
  15. Play07

    Play07 Member

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    throw in parsons, or make a separate deal, tell them we want shumpert & hardaway Jr.

    Howard - D
    melo
    Shumpert - D
    Harden / hardaway Jr 6th man
    Bev -D

    We may need cole Aldridge also to back up Howard...
     
  16. EightDoobies

    EightDoobies Member

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    CP25, Melo, Harden, Dwight, Bev. Let's get it!
     
  17. HardenWay

    HardenWay Member

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    Can't help but get excited.

    I think with Melo, Harden can have less of the offensive load, and put more energy into defense. The same for Melo.

    If somehow we can sell him on taking less, we can keep Jones and Parsons.

    I think this comes down to us and Chicago. I dno't see how he stays in New York. His chance to win is slipping.
     
  18. sammy

    sammy Contributing Member

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    Look at Carl trying to backpedal
     
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  19. ForTheWinYes

    ForTheWinYes Member

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    Wow, that's like an overload of great news in that article. Melo wants to contend immediately, the Rockets stars are prepared to recruit, Melo is willing to take a paycut to keep the roster intact. And all from Woj, too. Amazing.
     
    1 person likes this.
  20. OlajuwonFan81

    OlajuwonFan81 Member

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    If you stick him at PF, we would be the highest scoring team in the league by far. Yes our defense might suffer but at this point I'll take my chances. Unless Lebron comes knocking down our door, I don't see why we shouldn't sign him if he is willing to come play for us.
     

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