NBA teams have been saving up cap space in anticipation of a possible outstanding free agency class in 2014. Assuming they decline their player option, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony would all hit the market (not to mention many other young stars). However, I don’t see any of the Heat’s big three opting out of their contracts, especially since they recently won back-to-back championships.
That leaves Carmelo Anthony. I say there is about a 50% chance that he opts out of the final year of his contract, simply because the Knicks are not a championship team at this point in time. New York will not have any cap room with Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler still on the books, preventing them from building on the team they have. Don’t get me wrong, they are a solid team but they are not of championship caliber.
Carmelo is going to be 30 years old in May of next season, so I don’t see him wanting to waste another season stuck with an Eastern Conference Semi-Finals team, at best. For these reasons I believe as the 2013-2014 season progresses Carmelo will lean more and more towards opting out.
Courtesy: NY Daily News
Now the question is, “are the Los Angeles Lakers a potential destination to steal Melo from the Knicks?” I say without a doubt, he is the most likely the next superstar to become a Laker. The team will have enough cap room after next season to sign Carmelo and an additional max contract. It is no secret Kobe Bryant and Carmelo are good friends, so them meshing as a duo wouldn’t be too much of a problem. The one major dilemma is coach Mike D’Antoni; it is a known fact he and Carmelo didn’t get along too well in New York, so my guess is Los Angeles would have to fire him, to lure Melo to the City of Angels. Let’s not forget Melo almost was a Laker a few years ago, when Denver offered him for Andrew Bynum straight up before Jim Buss nixed the deal.
Of course there is always the possibility of Carmelo opting out and re-signing with the Knicks long term, but I would say LA is his only other possible destination. We will have to wait and see how this plays out, but don’t be surprised to see #7 in purple and gold soon.
Melo is a New York guy he isn’t going anywhere and there is no way he’ll ever play for “NO Dantoni” ever again. After Kobe retires, which might be sooner rather than later, that team is going to rebuild. The Knicks have a chance to win now, they might be the deepest team in the NBA. In 2015 Melo will be able to pick the entire roster. Win in LA and people love you but win in NY and you are a legend!
I see where your coming from. I still think its a possibility Melo bolts for LA. Anywhere else he leaves for I would be shocked