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

lol I can't believe people have absoutely ran with what Mitch Lawrence put at the bottom of his column along with some Boris Diaw speculation. He didn't even have a source.

 

IMO if he's focused on Chicago it might mean that he doesn't think he has a chance at coming to Houston because the Rockets are in on Lebron. Going the easy path to the finals in the East is great if you want to be known as the guy who lost every finals appearance he was in.

 

sorry. i love houston, but it's not a better city that chicago

 

I don't think it's that clear. Going to Chicago would mean, he is betting on Rose's health. Rose can be a great player, but those injuries are scary as hell. The only way this move would make sense is if he believes Rose can get back to his old form and won't get injured again.

With Rose they don't look bad at all. They have Noah, a great do it all guy, great passer and doesn't need the ball in his hands. Gibson is also a great and unselfish additional piece. And their coach has a pretty good rep.

That being said - I wouldn't bet on Rose and even with Rose and at best Chicago could be as good as the Rockets.

I would totally expect the Rockets to be at the top of his list. Best money (with the no income tax), best chance to win and nice story (new big 3, perhaps the best big 3 in history?). But he loves the big spotlight of the big cities, so who knows.

 

Have lived in Chicago for years... Yeah Houston is better.

 

From yesterday
Woj:

In short order we'll have an answer from Carmelo?

Yes, within the next couple of weeks. He's on track to opt out.

That's what I was referring to.

I've not heard any info that he's backtracked on that. Chicago, Houston specifically are preparing their pitches. He wants to hear and see what the blueprints are in different places as well as what New York can do between now and free agency to improve in the short term, without sacrificing long term plans.

When you reported he was leaning towards leaving, has anything changed since?

It hasn't. Carmelo is very determined to go out and see what's out there. I've been told repeatedly the Knicks have ground to make up. His eyes are looking at what opportunities are out there to win in 2014-2015 and beyond. Houston and Chicago have work to do to get space to sign him or try to work a sign and trade. Both are confident. Houston has to get off two big contracts. A lot of other teams are more skeptical how easy that will be for Houston. There's not a guaranteed clear path to max cap space but it's likely they can do it. Then that opens the door to show Carmelo how they can pair him with Rose and Noah or Howard and Harden. New York, they're not gonna be very good next year. They'll get those big contracts off next year then a crap shoot of who they can attract in 2015. You can't underestimate how much a part of this money is. New York can pay him more than anyone else. Carmelo isn't interested in taking a big chunk less to stay in New York. When he said about taking less, it was yeah, if we can put a big three together. New York is not in position to do that. I don't think they'll get much of a rebate from him.

You want me to take less because you'll do "something". 'Melo wanted specifics?

Yeah and they can't give that to him. What looks to be available now may not be and something you're not thinking of right now may be available next year. Let's say LeBron opts in, which is a very possible scenario where all three guys opt back in, for LeBron, he has more free agent options next summer with New York, you have more potential free agents to partner up with, and see where Wade is physically. Maybe LeBron is in the equation for him next year? He has tough decisions to make. New York can pay him the most but he's 30 years old, he says he wants to win. He'll have the chance to show how much that means to him.

Wade a shell of himself. Is it a big three? It looks like that's in his rear view mirror.

He missed a lot of games this year, they rested him, and didn't play well in the Finals. He did play well in the Conference Finals. He'll never be the old Wade. His game has to evolve. His athleticism will not carry him anymore. Those knees are a problem for him and will continue to be. That's all part of the discussion in Miami. He won't opt out. He goes $40 million over the next two years. In talking to teams and people around him, they know his market is hurt by the Finals. He doesn't want to go anywhere else but is he going to...I think regardless he opts back in and will get $20 million next year. In a new deal with Miami, he can't make that money up, even if he takes less. I think he opts back in. Bosh is the one who could leave and go get a max deal. He's loved Miami. He's the only one on record who says he wants to return. Bosh will be a follower with LeBron and Wade.

If you gave LeBron truth serum, he felt like a guy on his own. His supporting cast aged quickly.

They didn't play well in the Finals. I go back to the Indiana series where they put the whip to them. The biggest part for Miami, and Riley said it the other day, they have to retool their supporting cast. I think they feel can come back with those three but what you saw San Antonio do, the roster from 4-10 destroyed Miami's. San Antonio knew they had to beat Oklahoma City, LA Clippers and Miami in the East. San Antonio knew our top two/three won't be better than Westbrook or Durant or LeBron and the Heat's second best player in Miami but we'll beat you with our whole roster. The Spurs exposed more of the complimentary pieces in Miami than they did the stars. I really believe that.

Your gut tells you that Miami's big three has the "guts" as Riley said. Did you love that?

It was an interesting strategy. If they all stay, it was a great idea. If LeBron was put off and walks, it probably wasn't a good idea. Riley knows his audience. We'll see how it plays out. It was certainly a talk and a speech that I think...he wanted to put public pressure on LeBron. "You're gonna leave again?" There's no super attractive destination for LeBron. The Clippers with a sign and trade, Riley made it clear to people they're not doing a sign and trade. That would be the only way he goes to LA. Riley can dare him to take less money, try me.

Would LeBron care if he becomes a mercenary or prefer to put down roots and make Miami (or Cleveland down the road) his only destination?

All things equal he stays in Miami. He's been comfortable there. They've won. He's gonna put pressure on them. He has the hammer with the owner to get back into the luxury tax...LeBron is right to put pressure on them. If they take him for granted that he'll just come back, what's the motivation for the owner to spend? You have to do that if you're LeBron, that they'll spend. I think he's right not to play his hand right now.

Joel Embiid, most interesting player in the draft?

Embiid is. Only Cleveland and Milwaukee have his medicals. You have Philly and Orlando and Utah and on down, these teams are scrambling right now. They haven't met him, never mind seen his medicals. You have teams scrambling. In a sense, Arn Tellem, his agent, let's say he'd like to get him to LA at seven, he can control the flow of info between now and the draft. That'll be interesting. Who has the guts to gamble on him? Ainge in Boston has to come to mind with me. A lot of guys fear for their jobs and taking him could get you fired. Ainge, there's a fearlessness about him. He's someone positioned in his career, "Hey we might take a flier." It'll be interesting.

 

I don't read too much into any of the stories other than those from Adrian W. Anthony isn't even a free agent yet and it is very unlikely he has had direct communication with any of the teams.

Anthony may very well choose Chicago. He has an easier road in the East and gets more attention in a market like Chicago. Also, he has spurned the Rockets before.

We don't even know if James is the Rockets first target. It is all speculation. Hell, there were reports yesterday that Chicago was going to trade for Aflalo, which would make a deal for Anthony far harder to happen.

Most of these reports are guesses. Once Anthony and James and others opt out, we will know more.

 

I've been to Chicago, you are kidding,
Right?

 

Houston is way better than Chicago..That city is too depressing.

 

Visiting a place and living in a place are two very different things.

 

That' really all we need to know.

 

Chicago is a good place to visit, not so much to live. The taxes are the highest in the country. The winters are some of the worst in the country. People are not terribly nice. The economy and job market isn't that great. The city has serious financial issues. The cities infrastructure is very old. The city is segregated and the cost of consumer goods is very high.

I would recommend visiting, there are many things to do, especially downtown. However it is also a very depressing city.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>NBA peeps are worried about the Bulls right now. A starting 5 of Rose, Afflalo, Carmelo, Taj + Noah w/ Butler as 6th man is VERY doable.</p>&mdash; Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/statuses/480758529540624385">June 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>FYI - Bulls could trade Boozer's expiring + 16 + 19 to Orlando for Afflalo and 2 waivable deals. Then use Mirotic to dump Snell/Dunleavy.</p>&mdash; Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/statuses/480759642222366720">June 22, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Chiraq

 

I've visited Chi-town once... When nightfall hit, the beggars swarmed like crazy (similar to that one South Park episode). And you are right, people were super rude there.

 

you joking right?

 

Where's the cap room to sign Melo?

 

Yeah... Except Orlando would want no part of Boozers deal.

 

I don't think the math works.

First, if they use Boozer as a part of the Afflalo trade, Boozer can't be used as a match salary for a Melo S&T.

Second, after doing the transactions listed by Simmons, they still have $49.9M in salaries owed to 7 guys. Adding 5 roster spot charges and we are at roughly $52.5M, only $10M below the cap and not nearly enough to fit Melo in for a regular signing. And for any S&T to work, they have to send out a large contract, which are the names listed in Simmons' first tweet.

 

Nice lineup, but this one is very doable as well:

Beverly
Harden
Parsons
Anthony
Howard

With players like Jones and Canaan coming off the bench. Oh and this lineup is way less injury prone and has 3 legitimate stars (compared to 2 1/2 in Chicago, which could easily turn into 1 1/2 if Rose doesn't fully recover). From a pure basketball standpoint houston should be the easy answer.