In many ways, the
Carmelo to Chicago Bulls has been more fun than any other recent free agent speculation because of the Chicago Bulls' front office.
While they haven't made the splashy signing or traded for the marquee name, Gar Forman and John Paxson have simply made great personnel decisions to make this team successful in spite of not making big moves.
In fact, Chicago's biggest move this season was trading Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum and three draft picks. It was a deal mostly to acquire some financial flexibility, and to get future draft picks for Luol Deng, who the team couldn't bring back next season.
Despite the trend and the track record, the Bulls' front office appears to be in for a big summer.
Speculation has been building, as the Knicks struggle to make the playoffs, that Carmelo Anthony, who had already decided to opt out of his current contract, would be interested in joining a team poised to challenge for an NBA Championship.
The team looking like the best fit for Melo:
the Chicago Bulls.
Despite the financials of such a signing (Melo would be taking a HUGE paycut),
Carmelo to Chicago Bulls chatter has gotten even louder in recent weeks.
Even the Knicks front office is seriously concerned that the chatter is true, and they responded by bringing on former Chicago Bull Head Coach Phil Jackson as their President of Basketball Operations in order to show Melo that they are serious in making better basketball decisions in the future.
What can not be denied is that adding a talent like Carmelo Anthony would instantly make the Chicago Bulls the favorites to win the NBA Championship because of how complementary Melo's skills and strengths would fit in with Chicago. Adding his explosive scoring ability to Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls' stout defense would give them the balance to be the best all around team in the NBA.
And with Thibs as his coach, Melo stands to gain the focus he needs to maximize his talent on a Championship-level team. Melo has the talent to be considered
on the same level as Lebron James, but without winning a Championship, he can't be included in that argument of being the greatest player of this era. With the likes of Noah and Butler behind him, he will be on a team that can make his match-ups against Lebron and the Heat the marquee game in the NBA (then, maybe, someone might be paying attention when he goes off for 24 pts and 6 reb in a half on Lebron).
Waiting in the Wings
Waiting the wings is the 2011 First Round Draft Pick, Nikola Mirotic, who won the MVP of the Spanish League last season, and he has his team, Real Madrid, undefeated this season.
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| Nikola Mirotic has been dominating the Spanish League, winning MVP honors last year, and he is ready to bring his talents to Chi-Town. |
Rumor has it that he has indicated in interviews that he wants to win the Euroleague title this season because it would be "a shame to leave Real Madrid without winning one". This seems to indicate that this will be his final season with Real Madrid. Real Madrid has also reportedly already started searching for his replacement, according to sources.
Many have compared him to Dirk Nowitzki, however that is probably an enthusiastic overstatement. Nowitzki is an NBA Champion, who defeated Dwayne Wade and Lebron James' Miami Heat to win his ring.
While not quite on Dirk's level, Mirotic is a legit stretch PF that has three point range, can create his own shot off the dribble, and like most Euros, is a great passer. He would be utilized in the pick-and-roll with Rose, Hinrich, Butler, or Snell. He doesn't bang and rebound as well as Nowitzki, and presently, he lacks a back to the basket, low-post game.
Garpax is still hush, hush about the prospect of bringing over the 23 year old Serbian phenom, but several reports seem to indicate Mirotic's desire to come to Chicago this summer to join the Bulls.
Bulls' players and Coach Tom Thibodeau continue to chase the #3 Seed in the East while they and the rest of Chicago waits for the answer to: MELO or MIROTIC?
