While free agent Carmelo Anthony reportedly is torn between the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls, Knicks president Phil Jackson supposedly is eying signing free agent Pau Gasol this summer and his brother, Marc, next summer.
Anthony, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, is deciding between signing with New York or Chicago. Smith told ESPN Radio about a phone call he received from a close source to Anthony, who appears to be reconsidering his free agency plans.
Via NBC Sports:
"I got a call. 'Look, something has come up. Something is in the mix. Melo is having second thoughts. I don't know what's going on, but this is what it is.' I said, 'What are you talking about?' They said, ' Chicago.'
"Suddenly, Chicago is on the mind. I said, 'You've got to be kidding me. You've got to be kidding me.' And this is somebody that is incredibly close to Carmelo Anthony who I completely trust as a source. This is what he was telling me. Couldn't explain why, but just said, 'Chicago is not out of the mix.'
"'Melo is sitting at home with his wife and family and talking about the Chicago Bulls.' This is what they told me."
Ken Berger of CBS Sports and Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald both independently confirmed Anthony's renewed interest in Chicago.
Berger reported Chicago, who would need to clear cap space to sign Anthony, has trades "teed up" in the event Anthony agrees to sign.
"Carmelo Anthony's intentions have not been communicated to the Bulls, source says," Berger tweeted Thursday. "But Chicago has cap-clearing moves teed up."
Anthony may have even more interest in joining a playoff-contending team after LeBron James announced his decision Friday to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers. With James, Kyrie Irving and possibly Kevin Love, Anthony's best chance to win a title would be joining Chicago and teaming with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
Jackson, meanwhile, reportedly is trying to make the Knicks a more attractive option for Anthony by signing Pau. Jackson's plan, according to the New York Post, is then to use Pau to recruit his brother, Marc, next summer when Marc becomes a free agent.
