The Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets are frontrunners to land free-agent-to-be forward Carmelo Anthony, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Should Anthony elect to leave the Knicks as is widely assumed, Yahoo! reports Derrick Rose or Dwight Howard stand the best chance of being able to call the league's No. 2 scorer their new teammate.
Many thought the Knicks chances of keeping the 29-year-old Anthony in the fold were raised this week when the team introduced Phil Jackson as its new president. With his 11 coaching titles, many felt Anthony might be swayed by the thought Jackson might be able to help get him a step closer to winning his own NBA title.
But, apparently, not so fast, as Yahoo! reports "the Bulls have an easier path to clear the necessary salary-cap space to sign Anthony." As for the Rockets, the thinking goes "they can shed the contracts necessary to offer a near-max deal."
During the press conference officially announcing his arrival, Jackson stressed the Knicks have every intention of retaining Anthony, but admitted he feels the All-star forward has a higher gear he could compete at.
"I think Carmelo, as great of a player as he is, he still has another level he can get to," said Jackson. "Carmelo has had a load to carry this year. He's been remarkable in that. He showed in the last Olympics, coming off the bench and playing a role as a bench player on a magnificent team, that he can play a role if he has to play a role. He's a basketball player, that's what players want to do, cut, pass, and be in different spots on the court. To attack, to play. I think Carmelo will be just fine."
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