NBA Rumors: Add the Bulls as a potential suitor for Carmelo Anthony?
Dec 21, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden. Memphis Grizzlies won 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Carmelo Anthony has a big decision coming up.
It’s a decision that could go a long way in determining his future and his legacy. It will determine how he’s viewed by the media and fans. It’ll also be the reason why he’s criticized or why he’s praised. It’s a decision so big that it might even warrant a one hour long television special.
It’s Melo’s impending decision on whether to stay with the New York Knicks (the dumb choice) or to throw in the towel on the Big Apple and take a chance elsewhere (the smart choice).
But it isn’t as simple as the dumb choice and the smart choice — because pride, legacy and egos are at stake. Specifically, Melo’s.
The one thing he won’t have to worry about, though, is suitors. It appears he already has plenty of those.
"[New York Post]Anthony wants to play for a winner, but desperately wants to play in a big market because of his business ventures — his Jordan Brand sneaker line, his PowerCoco energy drink, his watch deal.That is why New York, Los Angeles, where he has a home, and even Chicago are on his short list, according to a source. The source said the Clippers — with buddy Chris Paul — are more attractive than the Lakers, though the purple-and-gold have cap space and the Clips don’t.The Bulls would intrigue Anthony, too, because he has a lot of respect for coach Tom Thibodeau, according to a source."
The Lakers will be there, the Clippers too (if they can somehow find a way to create cap space) and, according to this most recent report, so will the Bulls — Melo will have options. It’s not like he’s going to be forced to re-sign with the Knicks because of a lack of viable options. Also, all three of those teams listed above are in better situations going forward than the Knicks are. You could argue almost every other team in the NBA is in a better situation, but that’s neither here nor there. The bottom line is that he will have options, good ones at that.
The question is still if Melo is willing to feed the media and give up on his road to “bringing the Knicks a Championship”. It’s not going to happen. At least not at this rate. He can’t do it alone, no one can do it alone
anymore
. Wait, no one has ever done it alone, contrary to popular belief.
It’ll probably damage his legacy and hurt his ego, but I see no reason to believe that Melo is going to stay with the Knicks. He has an opportunity to opt-out this summer and I think he should. I think he will.
However, will he come to the realization that the Lakers, Clippers (maybe) and even the Bulls are better options for him going forward? Maybe. Probably. Yes.
Melo is a smart man. He’ll know what he has to do to become a “winner” in the NBA, rather than just a “great” scorer. But does he have what it takes to step up and make the right decision? The selfish one (in reference to his career)? The best one? More importantly, the clear one?
Or will he continue to let the pressure of the entire Knicks Empire get to him and continue to press forward for the impossible?