Remember when Carmelo Anthony was “Coming Home’’ less than 3½ years ago? Now he’s going to Chicago on Tuesday — at least for one day.
The Brooklyn-born Anthony begins a four-city free-agency tour in the Windy City after which many league sources believe he will still be blown back into a Knicks uniform. Still, the Second City has the best chance of stealing him from Phil Jackson.
However, according to two sources, Anthony’s wife, La La Vasquez, also a Brooklyn native, is very happy in New York and is opposed to Melo leaving the Knicks. He became a free agent for the first time in his career at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, but Anthony said in a video interview posted last week he’s worried about uprooting his family and 7-year-old son, Kiyan.
“There’s reason to believe he’s staying,’’ said one individual with ties to Anthony’s inner circle. “There’s just too much money out there. He’s doing to the right things, though. He’s got to make the rounds.’’
Anthony is expected to visit the United Center and Chicago’s practice facility. He will meet with Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, reportedly Joakim Noah and team officials, who will lay out a championship plan — similar to what Jackson, the Knicks’ president, did three weeks ago.
After the Chicago dance, he is expected to visit Houston and Dallas on Wednesday and LA and the Lakers on Thursday. The Miami “Big 4” scenario appears all but dead with a report LeBron James wants the maximum contract.
The only way Anthony can slip into South Beach is in a new Big 3, if Chris Bosh flees for big money in his hometown, Dallas. Jackson indicated he could meet with Anthony again after all his visits. The Post reported the Knicks like their odds because of cap issues with Chicago and Houston.
The Bulls face an uphill climb in clearing the necessary cap space to make a competitive offer. The Knicks can offer Anthony a starting salary of $22.5 million in the first year of a five-year deal. The Bulls’ best chance is by convincing Jackson to execute a sign-and-trade, but the Knicks don’t have to cooperate.
For the Bulls to get near the $22.5 million figure — and only for four years — they’d have to trade power forward Taj Gibson, among making other moves.
“The head coach doesn’t want to trade Taj,’’ one source familiar with the Bulls’ thinking told The Post.
The Chicago Tribune reported Anthony doesn’t want Chicago to trade Gibson either. That’s a roadblock.
In another scenario, the Bulls can reach a $17 million starting salary by amnestying Carlos Boozer and trading Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Jimmy Butler. But is even $17 million enough?
Indications are Anthony is looking to net near the maximum salary — though Jackson hopes he will take a little less to open 2015 cap space for a potential run at center Marc Gasol, who is new point guard Jose Calderon’s friend.
“Everywhere I’m hearing is Melo still is a lot about the money,’’ one NBA source said. “That’s why people think he’ll end up in New York.’’
The Bulls also have a glitch in their sales pitch in being unable to assure that Derrick Rose, who has played a combined 49 games the three seasons, will remain healthy. There was a red flag just Sunday, when Rose said he’s not sure he’ll definitely play in the Las Vegas camp that will pick the US team for the World Championships. Anthony has already gone through the Amar’e Stoudemire knee saga after forcing a trade to the Knicks.
“I still don’t know yet,” Rose said. “If I’m feeling right and the time is [right], for sure I will go out there. My body is responding good, but you never know.’’
Rose also said he won’t be part of the Anthony recruiting pitch. “If they want to come, they can come,” Rose told Yahoo! Sports on Sunday.
Rose added, “I love Melo’s game. He’s a great player, takes the game serious. He’s consistent. He shoots the ball great. I love his heart. I can play with anybody, no matter who it is. I believe I can play with anyone if they step on the court with me.”
That’s the dream Thibodeau, a former Knicks assistant, will sell to Anthony — a foursome of Melo, Rose, Gibson and Noah. The rookie first-rounder Doug McDermott can replace Dunleavy’s shooting.
Thibodeau said he doesn’t need Rose to do a song and dance.
“What we’re selling is our team and so I’m sure free agents are well aware of our team and the guys that we do have and they’ll research and our players will be available to talk,” Thibodeau said after the draft. “We think we have a lot to offer, we think we have great depth, we have great tradition and we’re positioned well to go forward. We think we do have a lot to sell.”
The Knicks, meanwhile, are looking to spend their $3.72 million mini mid-level exception on a big man, and would love to convince Pau Gasol to sign. Other free-agent notables are Kris Humphries, Jordan Hill and New Orleans power forward Jason Smith.