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

Oh you were saying Bosh is like a woman, not that he does not like women. Thanks for the vocab lesson.

 

If LeBron leaves .. . . can there be a big three of MELO/WADE and Bosh in miami

LOL

Rocket River

 

Post of the year!

 

Nah... just check out Hangout, or do you have it underrated? ;-)-

 

Bosh might act gay at times, but he has a fine wife. So i highly doubt it if i was going home to that.

 

Decisions to be made before LeBron could join Melo in NY

Spoiler

[rQUOTEr]LAS VEGAS — This is Carmelo Anthony’s “dream” — play in New York with LeBron James this season.

Too bad it’s a long shot to happen.

According to a friend of Anthony’s, Melo has held out faint hope Knicks president Phil Jackson can pull a miracle and clear out the necessary salary-cap space to get it done, but he is running out of time. Anthony’s decision could come in the next couple of days.

It would require Jackson to ship out Amar’e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani’s expiring contracts, and for Anthony and James to take less than the max. Iman Shumpert might have to be dealt, and the rights to Jeremy Tyler renounced.

One report said Jackson conceivably can move $40 million under the cap with a flurry of moves — as long as he doesn’t take back salary.

“He really wants LeBron to come to New York,’’ the source said. “That’s his dream right now. Phil is trying to get it done.’’

The Knicks have talked to the 76ers regarding taking on undesirable expiring contracts, something Philadelphia may be amenable to as long as a pawn is added. The Sixers have considered taking on Stoudemire’s $22 million but want Shumpert in addition. Philadelphia has $30 million in cap space, but has talked to the Rockets about inheriting Jeremy Lin, and they can’t do both.

There also has been a report of Jackson turning down a deal for Bargnani and Tim Hardaway Jr. Obviously there’s no point of doing such a deal unless the Knicks have a commitment from a prominent free agent such as James — or maybe even Pau Gasol.

Jackson appears eager to clear room and not wait until 2015. The Zen Master hinted at that during the draft late last month. But it really does seem to be — to borrow Pat Riley’s phrase — “a pipe dream.’’

The Knicks’ payroll for 2014-15 declined by $3.7 million because of their trade with the Mavericks, in which the Knicks shed Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton. But Jackson has a long way to go.

“We have many handicaps with our salary cap,’’ Jackson said on draft night. “There’s always a possibility. I’m not going to rule ourselves out of anything with a chance to do something special.’’

Special likely meant James, who spurned the Knicks in 2010 free agency but may have an open mind this time.

“He didn’t want no part of New York in 2010,’’ the source said. “But he loves Phil and the chance to play with Melo.’’

Ironically, Jackson is in Las Vegas with the Knicks’ summer-league team while James is here with his Nike basketball high-school camp. Reports are James is meeting with Heat president Pat Riley on Wednesday.

Most people in the league feel James will wind up back in Miami reforming the original Big Three with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, not with Anthony. One NBA source said the hype surrounding a possible James return to Cleveland is emanating from the Cavaliers, who are trying to save face for their 2010 debacle.

Jackson’s move to try to get under the salary cap further demonstrates Anthony’s preference is to make it work in New York, but he still has roster concerns for 2014-15. The Lakers, too, have looked into trying to fit both James and Anthony with their cap space but to no avail. They would have to dump Steve Nash’s contract.

James could sign a two-year max deal with Miami with an opt-out after the first year, giving him a chance at New York in 2015 or in 2016, when the Knicks also could have space.

The scenario in which Anthony could join Miami to form a new Big Three with Wade if Bosh accepted the max offer from Houston is tantalizing. But Anthony would rather do it in New York.

Whether Anthony wants to stay in New York without James is a question only he knows.

“He hasn’t gotten a clue yet,” the source said.

The Bulls, Lakers, Rockets, Mavericks and Knicks are awaiting answers. Knicks rookie coach Derek Fisher wouldn’t answer when asked whether he felt good about the situation.

The Bulls would need a sign-and-trade to net Anthony, and an NBA source said Jackson probably would do it if he thought he would lose him to the Lakers for no compensation.

Scottie Pippen, who had dinner with Anthony last week during his Chicago visit, said on SiriusXM NBA Radio: “I think we put our best foot forward and we pretty much wanted him to feel that we wanted him to be a part of our team and, you know, this is family here and we want him to be a part of it.”[/rQUOTEr]

 

If LeBron does sign something like a 2 year deal with an opt out after year 1 I hope Bosh says see ya!

 

This is another reliable Berman, one of the few NY media guys I listen to.

So, they'll sacrifice Bosh in a NewYorkMinute.

 

Carmelo Anthony still undecided about free agency as Knicks, Lakers and Bulls wait in limbo

[rQUOTEr]Carmelo Anthony’s ever-changing deadline was extended another day, thus leaving the Knicks wondering if the free agent forward is laying the groundwork to leave New York.

The Knicks were hoping to have a decision last week after team president Phil Jackson flew to Los Angeles to offer Anthony a max deal of $129 million over five years. At the very least, the Knicks were hoping that Anthony would have made a verbal commitment following the July 4th weekend.

Instead, as the Daily News reported on Monday, Anthony is “torn” over what to do next. The Lakers have offered him a max deal over four years while the Chicago Bulls can only offer him $75 million over four years. Of the three teams, Chicago is considered the most ready to compete for a championship.

In order for Anthony to get a deal from Chicago comparable to the one the Lakers have offered him, the Bulls would have to engage the Knicks in a sign-and-trade. Jackson refused to comment on such a scenario two weeks ago but there is a growing belief that Jackson would be open to a sign-and-trade since he could get an asset back for his top player.

Also, Jackson has maintained a close relationship with Bulls vice president John Paxson, who played on Jackson’s first three championship teams in Chicago. The Paxson-Jackson dynamic should not be discounted because at the very least the two sides would be open to talking if Anthony decided that he wanted to play for the Bulls.

Most NBA executives are convinced that Anthony will not leave $30 million on the table to sign with the Lakers or Bulls. But the fact that Anthony has delayed his decision suggests that money is not his only motive.

“If it was just about money he would have made a decision days ago,” said a person close to Anthony. “It’s not that simple.”

If Jackson losses Anthony it would be the second time this offseason that Jackson failed to secure his top target. Steve Kerr was regarded as the clear front-runner to coach the Knicks before Kerr accepted the Warriors offer of $25 million over five years. The Knicks originally offered just three years.

Jackson, of course, has made it clear that losing Anthony would not be a major setback for the franchise, considering the club will have significant cap space next summer. In fact, Jackson famously said that if Anthony re-signed or decided to leave the Knick, in both instances, would considered themselves “fortunate."

It was a revealing comment and one that undoubtedly caught Anthony’s attention as well.

Anthony visited four teams last week, not including the Knicks, and one of the four has been officially eliminated from consideration. However, Anthony has apparently narrowed his choices down to the Knicks, Lakers and Bulls with the Rockets and Mavs seen as long-shot candidates at this point.

The Rockets, in fact, are trying to finalize a deal for Heat free agent Chris Bosh that would give Houston a starting lineup featuring three All Stars; Bosh, Dwight Howard and James Harden. The Mavericks have already re-signed Dirk Nowitzki and are prepared to pursue either Luol Deng or Lance Stephenson when Anthony makes his decision.

Anthony’s former teammate, Raymond Felton, who was traded to Dallas on draft night along with Tyson Chandler, told a Dallas reporter on Tuesday that he is trying to recruit Anthony to the Mavs.

“I would love to play with him,” Felton said. “He’s been my best friend since high school. But Carmelo’s got to do what’s best for Carmelo.”

Anthony lives in Los Angeles during the offseason and was recently spotted working out with Kobe Bryant. If Anthony were to join the Lakers it is highly possible that Pau Gasol will re-sign with the club. As it stands now, Gasol is being courted by the Bulls, Thunder, Spurs and Knicks.

Jackson is still hopeful that he can re-sign Anthony and convince Gasol to join the Knicks. Jackson is trying to create additional cap space by engaging the Sixers in trade talks for Amar’e Stoudemire. A deal, however, is unlikely since the Sixers would want either Iman Shumpert or Tim Hardaway Jr. included in a trade for Stoudemire.[/rQUOTEr]

 

Interesting and explaing why the Amare deal to the Sixers is being rumored. Whatever gets Lebron out of Miami and Bosh to Houston is fine by me.

 

Hinke isn't stupid and Phil Jackson is getting hit with a dose of reality. They don't have what it takes to dump these guys.

 

Lot of gay people get married

 

When did bosh get the rep for being gay? Was it after he joined Miami and got that haircut?

 

Please explain..how does this make him gay?

 

really?

 

He is very effeminate in his mannerisms. It was more recognizable after he joined the Heat.

 

It's just a joke. I don't think he's gay, and couldn't care less if he was.