We wrote two months ago that Melo has the leverage to make the Chicago Bulls the ideal destination for himself (including getting the max or near max 5-year contract that can only come with a sign and trade while still having the ideal role players and defensive specialists that make the Chicago Bulls a Championship team).
Part of that formula is preventing Taj Gibson from being moved to create more cap space.
Taj Gibson was one of Chicago's most consistent players last season, playing in all 82 games and putting up 13.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 BPG in 28.7 MPG. In the playoffs, he elevated his game to average 18.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 2.4 BPG. He was a handful of votes shy of winning the Sixth Man of the Year.
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| Adding Melo while keeping Taj Gibson gives the Chicago Bulls the best starting lineup in the Eastern Conference. |
Carmelo, like any superstar in the team game of basketball, needs quality players around him that will complement his skill set. The Bulls, as currently constructed, are a perfect fit for Melo.
While moving Gibson would open the cap space to sign Melo to a max contract outright, it would weaken Chicago's starting line-up and depth and create the same problem that doomed the New York Knicks to their present situation.
In the end, Carmelo is the shot caller. He can get his max deal in a sign and trade with the Knicks getting multiple first round draft picks and Carlos Boozer's expiring deal to have huge cap space to pursue free agents in 2015.
And Melo can get his NBA Championship ring, too.
Will Carmelo come to Chicago? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
