The Chicago Bulls are reportedly planning to pursue New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony in free agency this summer. Chicago would likely use their amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer to create the salary cap room needed to offer Anthony a max contract.
Chicago emerged this week as the latest serious contender for Anthony, who's said he plans to opt out of his contract and become a free agent in July. ESPN's Chris Broussard reported Chicago's interest in Anthony on Thursday and indicated Boozer could be a casualty in the pursuit.
"It's not unanimous, but most executives I spoke with think Chicago will go after Carmelo Anthony in free agency. Some are completely convinced of it," Broussard wrote, via HoopsHype. "If the Bulls amnesty Carlos Boozer, they'll have the room to offer Melo the max."
Amnestying Boozer for a shot at Anthony makes sense. Boozer, 32, has one more year left on his contract, and his production - 15.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this season - doesn't necessarily make him worth the $16.8 million he would be due next season.
Chicago would have amnesty Boozer between July 10 and July 16.
When Anthony first announced in October his plans to test free agency this summer, it was widely believed he would ultimately re-sign with New York. The team's poor season, along with the glaring holes in their roster, makes the Knicks less of a sure bet for re-signing him.
His aspirations for an NBA title may outweigh his love for New York City. The biggest point of criticism against Anthony is he is only a scorer, and pairing Anthony with a presumably healthy Derrick Rose would allow him to be just that on a championship-caliber team.
The interest between the Bulls and Anthony is mutual, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
"The losing, the decaying roster, has inspired 'Melo to consider closely the possibilities of free agency this summer," Wojnarowski wrote on Saturday. "Within the past several weeks, a longtime confidant of Carmelo Anthony confesses, something changed. Never did he believe there was a chance Anthony would leave the New York Knicks - never the Madison Square Garden stage, never the $129 million contract extension.
"Only now, the gloom of the Knicks' season - the uncertainty of the franchise's future - left that man to believe it's possible Anthony could leave New York in free agency.
"'Chicago is much more in play for him than L.A.,' the source said."
Anthony is eligible to sign with another team starting on July 10, assuming he does opt out of his contract after the season.
