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

I think part of his calculus in addition to the NY glamor was joining a team that would be a contender. The later is surely not the case now, and its uncertain when or if that maybe the case anytime soon.

His priorities were clear when leaving Denver. The big question is, whether they have changed or not.

 

Thats a great point, that Denver team was pretty nasty. Funny how he ended up getting a good portion of that team to eventually join him in NY. Shows that his problem really wasn't with the team at all.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ec7DAf2EY4

Melo seems to cherish chemistry.. We undoubtedly offer that better than any other team. He talks about how people want him to go certain places without looking at it from a family perspective. My question is... Why would you want to raise kids in Chicago? Isn't there crime rate like top 3 in America?

 

Would you be skeptical about him joining Miami?

 

I'm sure he thought they MIGHT contend in New York, but the Knicks had been a joke of a franchise so that was a gamble. In Denver he had been to the Western Conference finals recently and was part of a very good Denver team. Instead of trying to work to help that team get better, he demanded a trade to a big market. He wasn't interested in becoming a free agent with flexibility because he was afraid a new CBA would cost him money. So instead he demanded his way out of a contender to go to an also ran in a big city.

As someone else pointed out, he got a lot of his Denver teammates with him in New York so we know it wasn't that he didn't like his cast of characters either.

But yes, hopefully his priorities have changed. I'm just skeptical. I think the biggest thing the Rockets have to sell Melo on is that he can still be a "star" in Houston.

 

12th actually. And I agree.

 

Nice find

 

The Rockets also had a mid-season coaching change, injuries to all three of our elite defensive players, and young players still grasping rotations.

Young players understand rotations better over time, injuries have to be accounted for, and it is really doubtful that the Rockets have another mid-season coaching change.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>We sat down with <a href="https://twitter.com/carmeloanthony">@carmeloanthony</a> to discuss free agency and what it's like to play in New York. Oh, and booing too: <a href="https://t.co/xe1asyXqFG">https://t.co/xe1asyXqFG</a></p>&mdash; VICE Sports (@VICESports) <a href="https://twitter.com/VICESports/statuses/481079744566665218">June 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

Recap?

Anything interesting at all?

 

he's wearing that hat all wrong

 

Via Isola this morning......

Lol if Cleveland offers the #1 pick. That is something their FO would definitely do.

 

That was reported by a total hack reporter.

 

Recap: He talks about winning and wanting to be a a part of a team where there is a family environment. He talks about not necessarily wanting to play with superstars but to team with soldiers who are going to fight every possession.

If this is the case... I actually see the Bulls being the favorite unless Dwight, Harden, Parsons can convince him that they give there all....

 

Man, that last part about soldiers sounds like Chicago is a good fit for what he wants. Houston definitely has the college brothers atmosphere, but I wouldn't say they are going to fight every possession.

 

The subliminal instagram post LBJ's wife put out leads me to believe if Melo did go to Chicago... that Lebron would actually prefer to go back to the Cavs. But then again Melo talks about living in a good city... is Cleveland really that good for his family? Probably.

 

Really don't understand the narrative about player X won't mesh with James Harden because Harden dominates the ball.

1) Harden is a willing passer.
2) Derek Rose dominates the ball too (Melo)
3) Dwyane Wade dominates the ball too (Lebron)

Harden does not dominate the ball any more than Rose/Wade. This is a NON issue.

If the Rockets get either Melo or James, they will mesh just fine with Howard and Harden. Great players figure it out over time.

 

Carmelo video:

As a kid, growing up, you gravitate to what's your environment. Everybody was a Knicks fan so you had to be a Knicks fan. They instilled that in you.

I came from a small market. Not so much scrutiny, not at like the level here in NY. Playing in a small market, you can only go so high. There's only so much you can do, you gotta look for something else, a bigger stand, a bigger stage so when you go to places like NY, you're there for 2 nights and feel the excitement and difference. Then you go back home, it's like, I want that. It's when you're here, you can be playing so well, and then have a breakdown and the boos will come. That's when you're like "What the hell is wrong with these people."

As far as player personnel, I'd love to be involved with that. At the end of the day, you're creating a family. You can't create a bond with someone that won't fit in with you or won't be there when you need them the most and don't understand the game and how to win and situations in the game. As much as it has to do with having superstars, you need the rest of your soldiers. You need guys willing to put their life on the line for you. It's a war, it's a battle.

The average person sees an opportunity to say that 'Melo should go here or there or should do this or do that but they don't take into consideration the family aspect. Where will you be living at, do you want your kids growing up in that city, do I want to spend the rest of my career in that city? All that comes into play. My son goes to school, he loves it. To take him out, he has to learn that system all over again, get new friends and I know how hard it was to move from NY to Baltimore at a young age.

As far as this goes, basketball, it's hard to say I'm gonna do this or that because everyone is affected. The average person is looking at just next year. We're looking at the big picture, the next 6-8 years and end of your career. Do you want to spend that much time in that place?

 

ESPN 1000 Chicago-

"DerickRose will not make any phone calls to Carmelo Anthony and will not partake in any recruiting attempts. Rose has asked the Bulls to target Kevin Love and not Carmelo Anthony, telling people that Love is more of a team player."

 

Harden didn't participate in the Dwight recruitment did he?