The Chicago Bulls have emerged as the favorites to land Carmelo Anthony in summer free agency, according to SNY.TV.com.
The website added the league's No. 2 overall scorer could even be willing to take less money to leave New York and Phil Jackson to join the Bulls and gain the chance of hopefully competing for an NBA title.
"He is looking to leave if one of the teams he likes can get a deal done with New York," a source told SNY. "He knows New York is not good enough the way they are currently constructed. Melo wants to win now. He will move if he feels that team can win."
Not even the Knicks' ability to pay Anthony nearly $30 million more than any other team or up to $129 million overall seems enough to sway him after the Knicks won just 37 games this season and missed out on the playoffs in the watered-down Eastern Conference.
With Jackson desperate to land a first-round pick for the Knicks in next week's NBA draft, the Bulls could conceivably offer a sign-and-trade package of their No. 16 and No. 19 picks and the expiring contract of veteran forward Carlos Boozer for Anthony.
The Bulls are known to have long been high on Anthony, with All-Star center Joakim Noah reportedly spending time recruiting him during All-Star weekend in New Orleans. The Bulls are also expected to welcome Derrick Rose back into the fold next season after he played in just 10 games in 2013-14 while nursing his second straight season-ending knee injury.
Anthony averaged 27 points and eight rebounds for the Knicks this season.
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