Sweet home, Chicago?
Maybe not for Carmelo Anthony.
With the Melopalooza set to hit Los Angeles on Friday, the Bulls’ position appears to be weakening. According to an NBA source, the Bulls, during Tuesday’s meetings, floated the idea of Anthony making about $16 million per year across four seasons — a sum that is not going to move the needle away from Anthony’s pre-trip gut feeling to stick with the Knicks.
On Wednesday, in Day 2 of his recruiting tour, Anthony did the Texas two-step, visiting the Rockets for 4 ¹/₂ hours. He toured Toyota Center and had a sit-down with Houston stars Dwight Howard and James Harden. Then he flew to Dallas for an early-evening meeting, reportedly at owner Mark Cuban’s house, headlined by Dirk Nowitzki.
That Anthony squeezed the two Texas teams into one day is telling. With no pomp and circumstance, Anthony met at Cuban’s house reportedly for just two hours after giving the Bulls nine hours to wine and dine him. But Chicago’s salary-cap situation looks to be a roadblock.
The Bulls are over the cap and can manage a starting salary of $17 million only if they amnesty Carlos Boozer and trade both Mike Dunleavy and Jimmy Butler. That would create a contract worth $72.6 million over four years.
However, the Bulls also want to sign draft prospect Nikola Mirotic, so Anthony might have to take less than $17 million if his expressed desire to win a championship supersedes money. Knicks president Phil Jackson can offer Anthony the maximum $22.5 million to start and a five-year, $129 million deal.
Hence, it appears the only chance the Bulls and Anthony have at a marriage is if they can coax Jackson into a sign-and-trade, and the Knicks president has shown no inclination toward cooperating. That’s why the Knicks have remained so confident. In fact ESPN.com reports Jackson is opposed to a sign-and-trade deal centering around Boozer. The Chicago Tribune reported Bulls officials nevertheless feel they “connected’’ with Anthony.
For what it’s worth, Kenny Anderson, the New York City schoolboy legend who still has NBA connections, tweeted, “My sources say Melo not happy with offer bulls made. it may be over Knicks fans can relaxs.’’
Before the Anthony free-agency tour, The Post quoted a source connected to Anthony’s inner circle saying, “There’s reason to believe he’s staying.’’
Meanwhile, the Rockets can open up near max-cap space if they jettison Jeremy Lin, as is the plan if Anthony commits. A source said Lin’s possible destination could be Philadelphia.
But Houston’s presentation got off to an awkward start as Anthony arrived in a black stretch limo. The Toyota Center marquee showed Anthony in a white Rockets “7’’ uniform. Problem is, Lin, Anthony’s former Knick teammate, currently wears No. 7. The former Linsanity took to Twitter with a biblical verse to express displeasure.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Anthony met with owner Les Alexander, general manager Daryl Morey, CEO Tad Brown, head coach Kevin McHale and personnel director Gersson Rosas. In addition to Howard and Harden, Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, now a Rockets broadcaster, was on hand, too.
“We put our best foot forward just like we did with Dwight Howard last year,” Morey told a Houston TV station. “He’s got to make the best decision for himself, but I think if he looks at the best combination of chance to win and city and community, I don’t think it’s a hard choice. We’re excited at the chance he might choose us.”
Howard told reporters, “To have an opportunity to be competing for titles, it would be great to have him here. I think getting a guy like Carmelo will give us a great opportunity to be competing for championships for a long time, at least four or five years.”
The Rockets had just poured $7 million into the team’s arena facilities, and Anthony got a two-hour tour/meeting before heading to lunch, according to the Chronicle. Then he flew to Dallas, where the Mavericks also have more cap space than Chicago, but Cuban is on record saying he can’t give Anthony the max.
As recently as the Chicago pre-draft camp, the Lakers, despite their cap space, had tepid interest in pairing Anthony with Kobe Bryant. They prefer trying to figure out a way to also add LeBron James.
Anthony is scheduled meet with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and executives Jim and Jeanie Buss, Jackson’s fiancée, and presumably Bryant.
“The prevailing feeling was they were going to wait to spend their cap space next summer, but they’ve become more proactive,’’ one NBA source familiar with the Lakers’ thinking said. “The two of them can get 55 points between them, but who else will score?’’
Jackson said the Knicks likely will meet with Anthony after the tour, and it could be in LA — where Anthony, Jackson and coach Derek Fisher each have homes.