Just one year after Carmelo Anthony signed his mega-max deal in the summer of 2014, the Knicks and Anthony both are doubting their decisions according to Zach Lowe from Grantland.
Carmelo Anthony inked in a $124 million deal last summer with the Knicks. The Bulls and Rockets were neck-and-neck with the Knicks with their pitch to Carmelo Anthony last summer. The Bulls weren’t able to offer a mega-max deal, but their pitch to Anthony surrounded around the idea of winning a title with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. The Bulls would have to give up Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, and Doug McDermott to even come close to offering Anthony a sizable deal, but that was something the Bulls organization was ready to do.
Carmelo Anthony choosing money over the Bulls worked out well for Chicago. The Bulls were able to bring over Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic with the free agency money while keeping Butler, Gibson, and McDermott. Also, the Bulls lucked out because Anthony’s season ended with a knee surgery.
As 12 months passed by, it seems the tables have turned for the Knicks and the Bulls. Just one year ago, the Bulls were desperately making room in order to bring over Carmelo Anthony. Now, according to Grantland, the Knicks want to get rid of Carmelo Anthony and hope the Bulls are still interested.
It makes sense for the Knicks to move on from the 31 year-old superstar. Describing the Knicks like they’re hot garbage on fire is an understatement. With no promise in sight besides Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks are tied to Carmelo Anthony by the hip paying him absurd amount of money with absolute no promise of winning. Anthony would also want out because he wants a real chance to compete in the playoffs to win a title.
It’s unknown if the Bulls will even explore talks with the Knicks, in fact most can safely assume they’d stay away from Carmelo Anthony. With Anthony’s mega-max deal still in place, the Bulls would have to give up a whole lot to make enough room to bring in Anthony’s contract. However, with the new salary cap that’s being put in place in 2017, the Bulls could be poised to adding another big contract.
