Why the Bulls are the best fit for ‘Melo

With Carmelo Anthony formally opting out of his contract with the New York Knicks and thus becoming an unrestricted free agent, numerous teams are now in pursuit of the seven-time All-Star. Rivals such as the Los Angeles Lakers Lakers, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and the Chicago Bulls have all been reported to be in the hunt, according to numerous sports media outlets.

But out of all these contenders, one stands out as the most logical destination where Anthony could benefit both financially and in terms of his chase for an NBA title.

The Bulls.

Despite Chicago’s ups and downs over the past few seasons, it’s no secret that the Tom Thibodeau-coached team takes pride in its heart, passion, and never-say-die attitude – all of which the Knicks didn’t display last season. Those three qualities were most noticeable after the team lost its superstar, Derrick Rose, to two knee injuries and after management traded Luol Deng. 

However, offensive talent is also required to win in the NBA. And the Bulls were missing a go-to-guy on offense that can take over scoring responsibilities during critical possessions during their playoffs loss to the Washington Wizards. Anthony is that type of guy, one who would be a perfect fit in Chicago. (RELATED: Holding Court – The Miami Heat’s Dilemma)

Furthermore, let’s break down why an Anthony-Bulls partnership makes a lot of sense.

Cap Space

The first move Chicago has to accomplish is to amnesty Carlos Boozer, who’s been a disappointment over the past few years. By doing this they free up around $13 million in cap space.

Next is to sign a rookie that won’t play in the upcoming NBA season. This would most likely have to be a European player who is still under contract with his hometown club. A move like this would free up around $800K in cap space. 

Finally, they have to trade Mike Dunleavy Jr. for a 2nd round pick, freeing up $2.83 million off their books. Losing Dunleavy is tough because he can spread the floor and is a quality defender, but it’s a necessary sacrifice due to what he’s slated to earn.

If everything mentioned above takes place, Chicago would have close to $16.5 million to lure Anthony. 

That number would be enough for Carmelo to strongly consider the Bulls considering the team already has a playoff roster. But should the multiple-time All-Star get greedy, Chicago can let go of Jimmy Butler or Taj Gibson to free up more cap space, though this would put a dent in the club’s championship aspirations. Melo has mentioned in the past that he’s dedicated to winning his first championship. Already at the wrong side of 30 and still ring-less, Anthony should opt for the former, as having Gibson and Butler would put Chicago atop the East.

The Roster

Should Carmelo decide to take a slight pay cut, then Chicago’s starting five would be strong enough to at least contend for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. A unit composed of Rose, Butler, Anthony, Gibson and Joakim Noah would have a balance of firepower and defense. 

Such a scenario would make the Bulls a slightly better version of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, a combination of Rose and Anthony would be a lethal one-two punch. Like the Thunder has with Serge Ibaka, Chicago also has a defensive stalwart in Joakim Noah. A supporting duo of Gibson and Butler is better than Thabo Sefalosha and Kendrick Perkins. There have also been murmurs of the Bulls potentially snagging Arron Afflalo, who was a borderline All-Star last season – although for this to take place, Melo would have to sacrifice less dollars. And likewise with the Miami Heat in 2010, veterans chasing for rings would sign with Chicago in a heartbeat.

Most importantly, a coach like Thibodeau would not accept nonsense behavior similar to what JR Smith portrayed last season. He would also improve Anthony’s defense, which remains the one glaring weakness in his game.

The ‘Leastern’ Conference

It’s no secret that the Eastern Conference has been a disappointment compared to its Western counterpart.

But it’s another logical reason for Anthony to choose the Bulls. He would still be staying in a weaker conference, making the road to the Finals an easier task. Unlike the East, the West has been a real gauntlet year in and year out. 

We saw last season how tough the West was with over .500 teams like the Warriors, Grizzlies, Mavericks, and Suns all fighting for the last remaining playoff spots until the final days of the regular season. Needless to say, making it to the Finals would be much tougher if Melo signs with the Rockets or Lakers because of the elite competition.

Also, with the Heat’s decline and fight with Father Time at its peak, the reigning four-time Eastern Conference Champions will have to make a lot of improvements this offseason in order to keep its place at the top. After Miami, there’s no clear-cut contender in the East. Should Melo join the Bulls, they would instantly take that role, if not surpass their rivals in South Beach. – Rappler.com