LAS VEGAS — Chicago is still the Second City. And New York is still home for Carmelo Anthony.
As expected, Anthony chose the Knicks over the Bulls on Saturday on the 12th day of free agency, according to NBA sources. The Knicks and Anthony were negotiating the contract Saturday and no official announcement will be made until Sunday.
Anthony, a Brooklyn product, had five contract offers from which to choose, including the five-year, $129 million max. But indications are he will accept less than the maximum, in excess of $121 million, as Jackson has encouraged. The Post first reported last week Anthony may take less than the max offered to give the Knicks flexibility in 2015 and 2016 free agency.
One scenario being discussed is taking the $22.4 million max the first year and taking a slight pay decrease the second year instead of the customary 7.5-percent raise.
“It’s getting closer to sounding like Carmelo will be rejoining the team,’’ coach Derek Fisher said Saturday after the Knicks’ summer-league victory over the Blazers. “That’s great news. I’m excited to hear it’s possible and at least it’s closer to being real.’’
The Knicks were the strong favorite entering and during the free-agency process, and team president Phil Jackson said earlier this week he expected a positive resolution. Now he’s got it.
Because the contract negotiations were ongoing, Jackson wouldn’t discuss his finest victory as Knicks president.
“We don’t have anything yet to stack up so rather than talk about it,’’ Jackson said. “We’ll wait. We’ll be there.”
Though the Knicks roster for this season doesn’t appear as strong as the Bulls’ collection of talent, Anthony in the end decided he wanted to align his future with Jackson and attempt to follow in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two superstars whom Jackson turned into champions.
According to sources, Anthony was happy with the addition of point guard Jose Calderon and the hiring of Fisher. Entering free agency, Anthony gave strong hints he didn’t want to uproot his family and The Post reported his wife, La La Vazquez, didn’t want him to leave the Knicks.
“At the end of the day that’s my first priority, to stay,’’ Anthony said during the All-Star break. “That’s my first priority. My priority is to figure it out together. My priority is not to just because I say I want to be a free agent, is to go leave. I never was a guy that comes into a situation and basically when it’s not going well to leave like that. That’s not my personality. I came to New York, and I said it before, I wanted to retire a Knick. That’s not something I would [expletive] with, I said it, I meant it. That’s how I feel.’’
His words proved prophetic, though who knows what could have happened if the Bulls had found a way to open up the requisite cap space. That’s why the Knicks remained confident throughout the process. The Bulls would have needed a tricky sign-and-trade to get it done or have Anthony accept a four-year, $73 million pact.
“I’m not surprised. I would’ve been surprised if he left. He’s a winner, [a] competitor,’’ said Knicks power forward Kenyon Martin, an Anthony friend and free agent attending the summer league in Las Vegas. “I think he wants to bring championship to New York.’’
Jackson still has his $3.3 million mini mid-level exception and has shown interest in Washington’s Trevor Booker and New Orleans power forward Jason Smith.
Anthony had wanted to play with Pau Gasol in New York and Jackson made a bid, but the former Laker reached an agreement with the Bulls on Saturday.
Free agency was on Anthony’s bucket list, and he visited four cities — Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Los Angeles. The Bulls provided the most powerful presentation, focusing more on the roster and the team’s ability to win a championship than on finances.
As Jackson said Thursday, he and Anthony had “struck a chord.’’ Still, Anthony waited two extra days after the official signing period commenced before committing.
“I think he’s enjoying the process of free agency,’’ Knicks center Cole Aldrich told The Post. “I know all the stuff he enjoyed in New York.’’
Jackson fully expected to win this battle against the two clubs he coached to a combined 11 titles in the Bulls and Lakers, who weren’t as big a factor as some reports suggested. But he expected to hear from Anthony last Monday.
“I don’t think the money ever was the most important part,’’ said a source close to Anthony.
“I think his concern was could they make the team better this season. He is comfortable in the outer years but needed to be convinced about the upcoming year.’’