On paper, NBA star Carmelo Anthony remains a member of the New York Knicks through the 2013-2014 season.
Come Summer ’14, however, Melo can opt out of the final year of his deal via an early termination option.
Free agency looms. Hot potential landing spots beckon.
NBA free agency offers bountiful riches—both material and of the championship-laden variety. Assembling a “Big Three”—the ever-popular phenomenon these days—can provide both financial security and promises of an NBA title. Or two.
See: Miami Heat.
Speaking of which, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all have player options for 2014-2015. Their pursuit of a three-peat and subsequent offseason plans will have far-reaching implications on the NBA landscape.
Anthony could entertain the prospect of joining one of these stars in Miami or elsewhere with a heart set on basketball immortality.
Yet, continued glamorous and lucrative dysfunction could also rule the day over signing with a winning organization.
Let’s exercise our own imaginative capacities and list some top landing spots for Melo next year.
New York Knicks
Couldn’t we have been more creative with our first option?
The Knicks can offer Anthony a max deal at $129 million over five years. That greatly exceeds the four years and roughly $96 million available in free agency.
If Anthony indeed stays in the Big Apple, the Knicks would then look to surround him with complementary defenders and players that are proficient without the ball in their hands.
Melo is absolutely prolific, but also selfish and defensively incapable. He’ll score upwards of 40 points in any given night, but will also hold the ball 31 percent of the time and give up 40 to his positional opposite.
Guys like Shane Battier and Luol Deng who can score and defend on the perimeter would serve as quality supporting pieces. Tyson Chandler, when healthy, is a perfect defensive-minded center who controls the interior.
There’s just one problem—the Knicks are nearly $16 million over the luxury tax threshold of $75.7 million for 2014-2015. They’ll have trouble signing any big names, unless the perpetually-injured Amar'e Stoudemire graciously opts out of his $23.4 million player option.
Still, there is a high likelihood that Melo stays in New York. It’s home, and the Knicks can pay.
We just wouldn’t expect a championship for Mr. Anthony anytime soon.
Los Angeles Lakers
Money, money, money—any such cap restrictions simply don’t exist in Tinseltown.
The Los Angeles Lakers are committed to just $13.6 million in guaranteed salaries next season. That means they have $62 million worth of fiscal freedom towards spending on marquee free agents.
The possibilities are endless.
Anthony could move out west and join up with an all-time franchise in an all-time city. He, Kobe Bryant, multiple high draft picks and everyone from the likes of Eric Bledsoe to Lebron to Dirk Nowitzki could chase a title together.
All while being shrouded in ridiculous amounts of attention in the NBA capitol of the universe.
Could it happen?
Sure—anything is possible in LaLa Land.
But will it?
That all depends if the equation, LA + Kobe + secondary role + championship destination > NY + Melo + primary role + championship-less home base, holds true to Anthony.
Chicago Bulls
An enviable locale with a pre-existing superstar beckons yet again.
The Bulls, with the great city of Chicago and former MVP Derrick Rose in support, offer Anthony a prime urban destination with a title-contending team.
And a perfectly available roster spot.
As mentioned, Deng comes off the books in 2014. The Bulls will certainly make a push to re-sign him, but they could also go in another direction at small forward.
Replacing the defensive-minded Deng with Anthony would finally provide Rose with a legitimate scorer on offense. A hardwood starting-five featuring PG Rose, SG Jimmy Butler, SF Anthony, PF Carlos Boozer and C Joakim Noah would have the potential for greatness on both ends of the floor.
But as we know, playing second fiddle sure is a tricky business.
Anthony would have to sublimate his ego, learn to play with others and develop a defensive capacity under the tutelage of uncompromising Bulls’ head coach Thom Thibodeau.
If he can—along with the Bulls orchestrating some nifty financial maneuvering—then a Chicago-based Carmelo Anthony has a bright future ahead.
And it’s one where the championship apple is ripe for the taking.
Miami Heat
Miami comes in near the bottom of this list for pure logistical considerations.
The allure of South Beach and the Heat’s big-name, championship pedigree are self-explanatory.
What isn’t, though, is how Anthony would fit in financially and on the basketball floor.
Miami is just under the league’s salary-cap threshold by $2.4 million. If it cleared the books by compelling Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Birdman Chris Andersen out of their player options, the Heat would have only $10 million more in spending capacity.
If they don’t have any objections with paying a massive luxury tax, Anthony could conceivably join the ultimate all-roster with James, Wade and Bosh. Norris Cole would run point, with Wade at shooting guard and Bosh playing center.
Unfortunately, where does that leave LeBron and Melo, two 6’8’’ small forwards?
Yes, James has proven time and again his gifts for manning every position. He could officially switch to the four and still do everything from run point to posting up as a center.
But could Anthony possibly manage his world-renown me-first tendencies alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh?
(Please excuse us while we pop a few Excedrin Migraine, as the basketball universe tears itself apart.)
What looks hot on paper doesn’t always materialize as such in real life.
Honorable Mention
Memphis Grizzlies
Here lies a poor man’s version of the Bulls.
The Grizzlies are a defensive juggernaut that inspires little fear in opponents on the offensive end. Adding Melo to a lineup of PG Mike Conley, SG Tony Allen, PF Zach Randolph and C Marc Gasol would form a complete NBA package.
Anthony could score and ball-handle at will while letting everyone else do the defending.
But it’s Memphis. Melo and country music aren’t exactly a match made in heaven.
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