Carmelo Anthony Rumors: Bulls on "short list" for 'Melo in Free Agency

Carmelo Anthony has an early termination option on his contract this offseason, and his impending free agency has been much-discussed already this season. As Marc Berman of the Post suggests, while all odds are that 'Melo simply re-signs with the Knicks (they can offer the most money, and probably do so regardless of sense), New York has been such a disaster this season that he may prefer to abandon ship:

Anthony wants to play for a winner, but desperately wants to play in a big market because of his business ventures — his Jordan Brand sneaker line, his PowerCoco energy drink, his watch deal.

That is why New York, Los Angeles, where he has a home, and even Chicago are on his short list...The Bulls would intrigue Anthony, because he has a lot of respect for coach Tom Thibodeau, according to a source.

(ht: HoopsRumors)

Thibs and Anthony share the same power-agency, CAA, though that would lend more to speculate why Thibs would go to NY than Anthony coming here, as the Knicks are notoriously favorable to CAA clients. Of course, while Thibs and the Bulls aren't exactly in great standing now, he won't go to the Knicks because they're a mess.

As was reported when Anthony forced his way to New York in the first place and again just a couple months ago, 'Team Rose' likes the idea of bringing Melo to the Bulls. There's the sticky issue of the Bulls not being under the cap enough (even if they let Luol Deng walk and Amnesty Carlos Boozer) to offer Anthony a max contract, so the Bulls would either work out a Sign/Trade with the Knicks (or involve another team to move money) in order to acquire Anthony.

There's also the issue of the Bulls having shown zero interest in Anthony in the past, and with him turning 30 before next season while still commanding maximum salary and forcing other moves to be made to simply pay him that salary...it still seems like a longshot. But that's not the same as saying it's not doable if the Bulls had the inclination.