Free agent Carmelo Anthony reportedly is deciding between signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. Anthony, whom the Lakers pitched Thursday, also reportedly played a pickup game Sunday with Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
Anthony isn't short of suitors. The Lakers, though, reportedly have gone from a dark horse to a top contender in the Melo Sweepstakes. Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported Los Angeles now is in "serious contention" for Anthony, and Grantland's Bill Simmons confirmed the Lakers are one of Anthony's top three choices in free agency.
"Hearing the Lakers made a MAJOR impact on Melo this week - it's now a legit 3-way battle between LA/CHI/NYK to land him," Simmons tweeted on Saturday.
New York has been the longtime favorite to re-sign Anthony, and Chicago -- backed by stars Derrick Rose and Joaqim Noah -- has trailed at a close second.
Anthony, however, has a close relationship with Bryant. The friendship, along with Los Angeles' huge market, could be a deciding factor that swing the pendulum in the Lakers' direction. Bryant flew from Europe last week to meet with Anthony, and Newsday reported the two played together in a pickup game of basketball Sunday at UCLA.
Bryant, 35, also supposedly changed his pitch: He wants to take a backseat role to Anthony and focus on playing defense, like he did in the 2012 Olympics.
Adding even more incentive for Anthony to bolt for the West Coast, the Lakers reportedly offered Anthony a maximum contract last week worth $95 million over four years.
Knicks president Phil Jackson also met with Anthony on Thursday and is also believed to be willing to offer the All-Star a maximum contract. Wojnarowski reported the same day that Anthony wanted to remain in the Big Apple and be joined by free agent Pau Gasol.
