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

Oh yeah they beat the Nets in the 2013 playoffs in the first round.

 

Except we don't need a sign and trade if we can dump Lin and Asik.

 

Here we go with more ESPN excuses. So this guy can't see us unloading Lin & Asik's contracts even with our stock of draft picks/young, cheap talent we can attach as sweeteners, but he can see Melo taking a significant paycut to join Chicago? Is he honestly saying he believes Melo will sign for $11 million a year? Because, as reported, that's about how much cap space "just amnestying Boozer" will open up for the Bulls.

It's amazing how little research these "analysts" do when throwing out their scenarios

 

If Melo is telling them to do a S&T then he's telling them he's leaving either way, and they don;t have the leverage to demand parsons (or anything, really).

Only way I see us lose Parsons is if we get a significantly better player in a deal, and I don;t see it as likely in a deal with the Knicks.

 

I would do that in .09 seconds.

 

There has to be a team out there like the bucks that would take Lin for a bag of skittles and pay him just to put a few butts in the stands. And I have no doubts about our ability to trade Asik, he is an upgrade for 80% of the league.

 

Parsons will be a free agent. New York could demand all they want. Parsons gets to pick where he goes.

 

Why? If Melo wants to come here he is going to come here either way. The Knicks only have leverage if Maurey has no other way of moving Lin, which I don't believe.

I'm not giving Parsons away if I'm Morey. Get a deal for Asik and Lin lined up with someone else - or at least convince Phil that you have deals lined up - and the Knicks have little leverage. What, we're gonna give Parsons away just so we can stay over the cap and keep the MLE? I don't think so.

 

I was answering that in terms of if that was the only option. If I'm Morey and it's not the only option I keep rolling the dice.

 

The Bulls really can't realistically get both Afflalo and Melo unless Melo is willing to play for about 11 million a season. Take a look at Chicago's salary situation and what the cap is. Don't blindly buy into what Bill Simmons tweeted.

I also seriously doubt it would take more than a 1st round pick and possibly a 2nd round pick to move Lin. I don't see TJones moving for Lin.

 

If melo wants the 4 year max like Howard got, then yes we would need to do a S&T

Unsure but think this would allow us to use the MLE.

- I think Knicks do a S&T if he leaves to get future picks and only take contracts that expire 2015

 

"Just amnestying Boozer" is far from enough. If they renounce all their FA and amnesty Boozer, they have 11.2 million in capspace. If they also trade away Dunleavy they have 14 million. That would still be a 10 million pay cut - per year, so 40 million overall.

They need to either get a very generous s&t with the Knicks that would almost have to include Gibson and 1 or both of their first rounders this year, or they need to do a whole lot of small trades or cuts.

So what is more reasonable? The Rockets trading away Lin and Asik, one a solid rotational player with lots of fans and media frenzy around him, the other one a top 10-15 center in the league, or Melo taking a huge paycut or going to a bare bones CHI team while still taking a 12 million total paycut that's success is based on Roses health?

What are these analysts smoking that think that it is easy for Chi to clear capspace while thinking it is so hard for HOU to clear capspace? From a basketball standpoint HOU wins. From a salary standpoint HOU wins. CHI only wins in being a bigger spotlight city in the easier conference. Everything else points to HOU.

Edit: @Play07
Why would we need the S&T for the 4 year max? We'd need to cut some players like Casspi and deal some players like Moti - but we should be able to carve out enough cap room. But you are right, a S&T should allow us to use the MLE I think.

 

I'm not sure about cap would have to ask bimathug but think they will have $18-19 in cap if they get rid of boozer and they have 16 + 19 first round picks

Rockets will have about the same of they get rid of Lin + Asik + fillers and we have 25th pick

BULLS/ROCKETS - Besides rose health this is going to very interesting who he picks NY, Hou, Chi... One edge the other 2 have no one mentions is FAN ATTENDANCE and SUPPORT, melo likes the big lights, Howard was different he was trying to get out of them, bulls games stayed packed even when rose didn't play last 2 seasons and MSG stayed packed through a horrible season, Toyota center is only packed in playoffs looks horrible most nights unless rockets are playing a team with big name stars on it. Even tho we had big 2 big name stars on our own team.

I'm 33%chi, 33% Hou, 33% Chi

KNICKS - NY can rebuild 2015 quick everyone expires but J.R and he can stay in NY home where his wife loves to be, secure a 5 year $125-130 mill deal, and will be the king of NY if he stays loyal to the city. And free agents will line up to come there with PHIL & him next year.

ROCKETS - Harden & Howard 2 legit all stars for the next years for sure. Will be a solid team in west. Good GM who will do his best to build around the 3 stars. Teams needs a stretch 4, plenty of 3s will be here for him to shoot from harden kick outs & he will open space for harden drives & Howard postups

BULLS - coach he likes, solid defensive team, solid vet SERIOUS Player atmosphere, has GREEN LIGHT can still put up big shots every game without having to worry about taking them away from players. That was their weakness Offense. No center caring about his touches/postups, no up and coming young solid SF wanting to shine.

 

Edit.... 33% chi / 33% hou / 33% NY

 

@Play07

No, like I said, if they amnesty Boozer and don't extend any of their FA, they only have 11.2 million in capspace. If we get rid of Lin and Asik, with Garcia declining the option and us declining Parsons option we have a little over 20 million of capspace. Getting rid of Moti, cutting Casspi and one of Covington, Daniels or Canaan and we have the max Anthony wants. I might be of with the roster spot placeholder, but you can put it anyway you want it, even if I'm off, we can get very close to Anthonys max, Chicago basically has no chance of just signing him, they'd need a s&t.

 

We will all just have to wait and see.

Chicago is an easier path to the Finals. Chicago is a more glamorous city. Thibs is a better coach than McHale. Anthony can play the 3 in Chicago.

Houston has a better core of players than Chicago. The Rockets will not run Anthony into the ground like Thibs. Alexander will spend money and Morey will do what is needed to get the Rockets the players needed better than Far Foreman.

When it is all said and done will Reinsdorf amnesty Boozer if he has to? Will The Rockets find takers for Asik and Lin? Will Anthony even leave NY?

What role will Howard and Harden and Noah have in recruiting?

Will Anthony trust Rose's health?

Has Anthony already made up his mind?

Was the Aflalo leak show the Bulls are not set on Anthony?

Many, Many questions and we won't know for awhile.

 

Woj:

Carmelo plans to opt out. Ever a possibility he would opt in?

No. He made his mind up, well before the season that he would and never wavered. His agent will file the notice Monday morning.

Will Phil give 'Melo the max?

I don't know. I think he has to if he wants to keep him. That's their only advantage. If he's taking less money, I think he will elsewhere. When 'Melo talked about taking less money, he meant was if you give me a big three scenario and help fit me in, great. Hard to sell a guy on a hypothetical. That's a difficult sell.

Which team/city is the favorite?

My sources tell me Chicago is the favorite and Houston will get serious consideration from 'Melo. Both teams have significant work to do. Houston may have a tougher avenue to clear cap space. Those contracts are difficult to take on. Chicago has Rose, Noah, Thibodeau and when you look at the need for Carmelo, a big time scorer and go to guy, the fit is perfect. Those are the two teams.

If he goes to those teams, it's a mythical rank, but where would that [Denver-New York] trade rank as a failure?

Because it's New York, there's so many built in advantages, like Dwight Howard, who walks away from LA or seriously considers leaving the Knicks? It's a different age. You have advantages in the big market but if you don't run it right...

How does this scenario play out with Miami?

They're all still deciding and having conversations among Wade, James, Bosh and between the players and their reps and Riley and the Heat ownership. For LeBron, he's the catalyst. Does he opt out and re-do his contract in Miami or opt in, which we all agree is most likely, or go hit the market? Next year, there will be many more options for LeBron, whether that's a big market team like New York or the LA Lakers and also the idea there will be more high profile free agents. They have several options this year. I think they all opt back in and go one more year. That gives LeBron a chance to see where Wade is 12 months from now. In the middle of that will be Riley's vision to retool.

Your tweet from the other day, Portland and the appeal of their core. With them in place, could you ever see an alpha male to Portland?

It makes sense. If they talk about wanting to win, Houston is trying to assemble a big three and Portland just beat them, so why not? Portland can easily create the moves to make room. The fan base, tradition and players there, you can make a case but I don't see a current scenario.

Any chance any of the top seven picks moved?

Absolutely. A lot of picks are in play. The Embiid thing has thrown a wildcard into this. Philly has had discussions. Ainge is always open. The Lakers and Kings...there are plenty of teams. If the Kings could get Rondo, who they've been after, they'd move it. If Boston can get Love, they'd move picks. I don't sense teams trying to trade into that seven range to draft players. It's teams looking to move out and get veteran players.

How far could Embiid fall?

In talking to teams in the lottery and back end of the lottery, if he did drop, Philly and Orlando have two picks. There's a sense the floor is 10(Philadelphia) or 12(Orlando). So much is based on can teams get the medical info on Embiid? Can they get physicals and a look at this injury? Teams want that info when they make a decision.

____________

Mannix: Houston has to trade two guys making $15 mil. If Houston will try to deal Lin or Asik, they'll have to sweeten it with first round picks. No team in the West is looking to do Houston favors. It will be tougher than people think.

 

Its not even possible under the CBA

 

The odds are very slim we are adding a third star. We can't even offer a full max or close to a full max.

 

Neither can Chicago or Miami.