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| Carmelo Anthony to become free agent. Photo credit: NBA |
An introspective look at the possible destinations that soon-to-be free agent Carmelo Anthony will have to choose from in the NBA. It would be hard for him to make a bad decision considering the options available.
Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher plan to meet with Carmelo Anthony in Los Angeles this weekend to make a hail-mary attempt to convince him to stay with the Knicks. Sources, including myself, say their speech will fall on deaf ears, because Melo has made up his mind that he wants to play somewhere else. It is not Phil's or Derek's fault that they can't make the necessary changes to the roster to make New York an enticing destination. That began long before they got there. When the Knicks were good, Melo was only starting to learn how to dribble a basketball, and even then they were second fiddle in the East to the Chicago Bulls.
Anthony now has too many better options on the table to pass up. Reports say he is seriously considering the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. Rumors have circulated that the Miami Heat may look at options to form a "Big 4" with Anthony.
Chicago Bulls
This is the best option if Derek Rose returns to his MVP form. Rose, Anthony, and Joakim Noah would be the best "Big 3" in the Eastern Conference even if the Miami Heat stay intact. Melo knows that the Western Conference is gridlocked with talented teams, so a move like this that would keep him in a very winnable conference is inviting. All three have a college championship pedigree also, so they know what it takes for a team to win.
Houston Rockets
If your going to take the plunge in the deep sea of talent in the West, Houston is not a bad diving board. James Harden could be the scoring option that Melo would need to take the pressure off of him to score 30-points a night. Dwight Howard in the middle could easily benefit from not getting double-teamed as much in the paint. The problem is frankly coaching and the immaturity that both Harden and Howard at times display. If Melo is serious about winning a championship, he will have to be the leader of the team.
Dallas Mavericks/ Los Angeles Lakers
To me, joining the Mavs or the Lakers is the same decision. You have to be okay with joining an aging Hall of Famer for the last two years of his career, then take over the franchise. Both teams will have enough cap room to remain competitive, but Dallas already has some good pieces to start with like Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis. Los Angeles is the better location for Melo as he continues to grow his investment portfolio in tech companies, plus his wife's busy entertainment career. The Lakers do not have a head coach yet, while the Mavs are solid with Rick Carlisle.
Miami Heat
Melo leaving New York would mean forfeiting a fifth year on his new contract and roughly $30 million dollars in guaranteed salary. Why on earth would he take another significant pay cut in order to play with the "Big 3" in Miami? This seems more like a NBA2K fantasy more than an actual reality.
San Antonio Spurs (the longshot)
The quiet secret in the NBA is that the Spurs could create enough cap room to go after Carmelo. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili have contracts that end next season, so there could be some restructuring or retirement to make room. They will be in better position to be a free agent destination after next season, but stranger things have happened. If Duncan retires and does not use his option for $10 million next season, this could work. Why would anyone want to pass up the chance to play with a winning organization like the Spurs, even if it is in central Texas.
Choices
Today's NBA is totally different from the NBA pre-2000. With the advancement of cable television and online packages like League Pass, players can find an audience anywhere. Globally, fans follow their favorite athlete more than their favorite team. Melo should not base his decision on tradition alone. This may be the last stop of his career. If he wants to really win, he has to make a smart choice.
Follow me on Twitter @RodneyFisherNBA
