Carmelo Anthony has informed the New York Knicks he intends to opt-out of his current contract and become an unrestricted free agent. Anthony is now a free agent for the first time in his career, but who will land the offensive talent?
Many teams will line up for the chance to bring in Carmelo, but who actually stands a chance to acquire his talents. The odds of teams landing Melo are as follows:
New York Knicks: Carmelo could opt to stay in town with a new contract if he sees that Phil Jackson offers the best chance to win. Anthony will return to New York if he sees the grass isn't always greener on the other side and the free agency hunt isn't all he thought it would be. Rumors are that Anthony’s wife wants to stay in New York and that could sway his decision.
Odds: 100 to 1
Miami Heat/Los Angeles Lakers: I package these two teams together because they are high profile locations that could pay dividends to Melo immediately. The Heat would be right back at the top of the NBA hierarchy with Melo, but this would involve all the members of the Heat taking a huge pay cut to accommodate Anthony. The Lakers, on the other hand, are years away from competing and Kobe Bryant is nearing the end of his career. These two aren’t likely to happen considering what Melo is seeking.
Odds: 50 to 1
Chicago Bulls: The Bulls are one big offensive player from being right back in the heat of the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are hoping that Derrick Rose will return to his old form while Joakim Noah has started to establish himself as one of the best big men in the conference. Adding Carmelo to the equation would give the team exactly what it needs and could vault them back into championship contention.
Odds: 7 to 1.
Houston Rockets: This seems like the most attractive option for Carmelo going into next season. The Rockets would form their own big three with Dwight Howard and James Harden while having a solid supporting cast. The Rockets have to shed some salary cap to land Melo, but the Rockets are rumored to be seeking trade partners for Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik. If the Rockets deal those two, they are gearing up to add another max contract to the team.
Odds: 5 to 1
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