Carmelo To Chicago Bulls: Lebron to Cleveland Forces #MELOtoCHI

Thankfully, Lebron did not announce his return to Cleveland by tweeting "I'm Back." It was probably the only destination where he could "chase" a ring without being called out for being a ring-chaser.

But assuming that Kevin Love is still "intrigued" about joining Lebron in Cleveland, you would have to think that Cleveland has the assets to get a deal done to put together a Cleveland Big 3 of Lebron, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love.

But that was supposed to be the two guys the New York Knicks had been eyeing to put next to Carmelo Anthony in 2015. Instead, Lebron will remain in the Eastern Conference, possibly be joined by Kevin Love, and got a max contract.

Meanwhile, Melo has been the higher profile free agent this summer, but he has not been handling his business like you would expect of one of the Top 3 players in the league.

Just the fact that ESPN has portrayed him as waiting for Lebron to make his move because Melo was waiting to see if there might be an opportunity to play along side Lebron? That is the same move that got Lebron called out for being a B!+@# in 2010.

So, now all eyes are back on Melo.

Lebron basically swooped in like a ninja and took away any possibility of the New York Knicks spending their way to a better team in the next two years, and if Melo has any intention of winning any hardware before he is known as one of the Top 3 players to never win an NBA Championship, there is only one choice.

Call Phil Jackson's bluff and commit to coming to the Chicago Bulls.

Join a team that has the pieces in place to complement your talent and that would have a Big 3 of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Melo.

And get your max contract money when Knicks ownership tells Phil that he is not letting you walk for nothing in return.

And if it turns out that the Knicks refuse to sign and trade Melo? Get LaLa Anthony her own show on Oprah Winfrey's O Network to make up the difference. Opportunities like that abound in Chicago, for a Champion.

If you BULL-ieve, let us know in the comments below! Thanks BullsNation!

Carmelo To Chicago Bulls: Deal For Love May Be Key To Closing With Melo

While if I were running the Chicago Bulls, I would like to put all the resources available to me into acquiring Carmelo Anthony, it would be equally wise to revisit trying to make a deal for Kevin Love, Chicago's #2 target this off-season, even before Carmelo comes to a decision about coming to Chicago.

Kevin Love is a game-changing player that the Chicago Bulls have been targeting, but in addition to that, it may be the missing chip to closing the deal with Carmelo Anthony.

Why?

Reportedly, if all things were equal between his three most preferred destinations (New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago), Carmelo would elect to go to Chicago. But there is the small matter of $50M that supposedly separates the deals that New York is offering vs. the deal that Chicago is able to offer.

While that is only the case if Chicago were to sign Carmelo Anthony outright with straight cap space, but that is not the only way to get Melo to Chicago.

Phil Jackson has already flipped on one of his hard sells to Melo: his initial request that Melo take a pay cut. Jackson, after Carmelo heard the pitches from Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles, flew out to offer Melo a max contract in an act of sheer desperation.

As such, there is absolutely nothing to stop Phil Jackson from flipping on his refusal to take Carlos Boozer's expiring deal and draft picks in order to get something for Carmelo Anthony rather than letting him leave town for nothing. (Even Dan Gilbert agreed to a sign and trade when Lebron "took his talents to South Beach" rather than let him leave town for nothing. It's just sound business.)

If Carmelo were to commit to coming to Chicago, then the sign and trade would be an automatic.

But in case Carmelo has been not entirely truthful about his interest in Chicago, or if he has been holding out to play second fiddle to Lebron in South Beach, locking up a deal for Kevin Love would accomplish two important things:

1. Securing a deal for Kevin Love would be hedge against Carmelo not coming to Chicago. And...
2. It would help make the case that the Knicks will not be better in one year's time.

By locking up a deal for Kevin Love, the Chicago Bulls will not end up in the same situtation as 2010, when there was pressure to get some consolation prize in the Summer of Lebron, signing Carlos Boozer as a result. 

This summer's consolation prizes include Luol Deng and Lance Stephenson...

Secondly, by acquiring and signing Love to a long term deal, the Chicago Bulls would know that one of the biggest targets of 2015 NBA Free Agency would not be there for the New York Knicks. In addition, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kyrie Irving are two other desirable targets no longer in play for the Knicks in the Summer of 2015.

Without top tier free agent targets, Carmelo can't expect the Knicks to improve despite having cap space available, and in less than a year, Melo may be traded as part of an effort to rebuild in New York, except Melo may not have a say about where he goes because he has already resigned with the Knicks for the max.

And by the way, getting a deal done for Love also keeps him from going to the Cavaliers.

Carmelo's best option is to come to the Chicago Bulls. If you BULL-ieve, please leave a comment below! Thanks BullsNation!

Carmelo To Chicago Bulls: Coveted All-Star Will Visit With Chicago Tonight at Midnight

Carmelo Anthony is rumored to be in Chicago, and he will waste no time before meeting with the Chicago Bulls tonight at 12:01AM, when the NBA free agency period begins.

Chicago is apparently Melo's top priority, as Carmelo is the Bulls' top priority this off-season.

Melo will visit first with the Chicago Bulls before heading to Texas. There, he plans to visit the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, followed by a visit to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

There are also reports that Carmelo will visit the Lakers "next week" (he has a residence in Los Angeles) and a free agency decision will also come next week, if not sooner.

The Competition: New York Knicks

Latest rumors out of New York have the Knicks wanting to pair Carmelo with Lakers free agent Pau Gasol, however the Knicks will have only about $4M available to the sign the former All-Star.

Knicks President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson coached Pau Gasol with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Many Chicago Bulls fans are cautiously optimistic about the possibility of Carmelo Anthony landing with the Bulls.

By next week, #BullsNation will know if we should be planning an NBA Championship parade sometime in June 2015.

If you could tell Carmelo Anthony what it would mean to the city and #BullsNation if he came to Chicago, what would you tell him?

Carmelo To Chicago Bulls: Former Scoring Champ Will Visit Chicago First After Free Agency Period Begins

Carmelo Anthony has a tentative plan for his visits after the NBA free agency period officially begins on July 1st.

Once again, Chicago is at the top of his list.

Melo will visit with the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, the first day of the free agency period, before heading to Texas. There, he plans to visit the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, followed by a visit to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

There are also reports that Carmelo will visit the Lakers "next week" (he has a residence in Los Angeles) and a free agency decision will also come next week.

The Competition: New York Knicks

Latest rumors out of New York have the Knicks wanting to pair Carmelo with Lakers free agent Pau Gasol, however the Knicks will have only about $4M available to the sign the former All-Star.

Knicks President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson coached Pau Gasol with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Many Chicago Bulls fans are cautiously optimistic about the possibility of Carmelo Anthony landing with the Bulls.

By next week, #BullsNation will know if we should be planning an NBA Championship parade sometime in June 2015.

If you could tell Carmelo Anthony what it would mean to the city and #BullsNation if he came to Chicago, what would you tell him?

Carmelo To Chicago: Rumors Have Bulls Acquiring Melo In S&T From Knicks

It looks like the Chicago Bulls will add their first bonafide scoring champion to the team this off-season since you know who.

As reported by David Schuster (@Schumouse on twitter):

"Major Update: The New York Knicks Phil Jackson are ready to sign and trade Carmelo Anthony according to sources out of New York. Chicago Bulls are the frontrunner as a trade partner for the New York Knicks for Carmelo Anthony. Stay Tuned."

Carmelo Anthony has a deadline to opt-in to the final season of his existing contract with the New York Knicks tomorrow. Opting out will make the 7-time NBA All-Star officially available on the open market.

The Chicago Bulls appear to be focusing in on their main free agent target, Carmelo Anthony.

Several media outlets have already reported that Melo, even after meeting with Knicks management and new Knicks head coach Derek Fisher, is still leaning towards opting out of the final year of his contract.

With reports out of New York that Phil Jackson is making moves towards working out a sign and trade indicates that Melo is indeed in win-now mode and has indicated to the team that he will opt-out of the final season, and $23.3M, of his current deal.

Between Carmelo's two preferred landing spots, Chicago has the more attractive assets to get the deal done, and most reports indicate that Chicago is Melo most likely landing spot.

With the opt-in deadline and the NBA Draft later this week, we will certainly get a clearer picture of the sign and trade deal very soon as Chicago will need to shed cap space in the form of its draft picks and New York will want Chicago's two first round picks as part of the Melo deal.

What remains to be seen is who the Chicago Bulls will have to sacrifice as a price for acquiring Melo, however a sign and trade with the Knicks was going to be the best case scenario for both the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks.

The Knicks would be able to get some value for Anthony rather than let the potential free agent walk away for nothing.

Meanwhile, Chicago will most likely send the embattled Carlos Boozer to New York to match the bulk of Carmelo Anthony's incoming salary. This avoids amnestying Boozer, which would have cost the Bulls as inaccessible cap space.

The Chicago Bulls potential big 3 of Carmelo Anthony, DPOY Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose, could make the team the favorites in the Eastern Conference, depending on who the team manages to hang on to after the Melo trade goes down.

This week should also reveal what the Miami Heat might look like next season, too, as the contracts of the Miami Big 3 also has an option due.

It seems as if with the curtain falling on Miami's Big 3, that a new Big 3 will rise in the Eastern Conference to take its place.

How far will the Chicago Bulls go with their big 3 of Carmelo, Noah, and DRose? How big will their window to win championships be? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Chicago Bulls Off-Season: Noah Lobbying For Carmelo To Bulls

While the Chicago Bulls ousting at the hands of the Washington Wizards in the first round of the NBA Playoffs was disappointing, although not unexpected for the overachieving Bulls, there is an overwhelming sense of optimism among fans of Chicago Bulls Basketball for next season.

For many, it is because of the very real prospect of adding current New York Knicks All-Star Forward (and coveted free-agent) Carmelo Anthony to next season's Chicago Bulls' roster.

Carmelo Anthony's Offense + Chicago Bulls Defense = 2015 NBA Championship

Even the New York Knicks were feeling the pressure of the pending departure of their superstar. So much so that Knicks owner, and basketball baffoon, James Dolan, finally admitted that he had no business anywhere near a basketball decision, and the embattled owner finally hired former Chicago Bulls Championship coach Phil Jackson to take the reigns as President of Basktball Operations in New York.

While that seems to have quelled most of the Carmelo To Chicago Bulls talk, there are still the facts.

Despite a current contract in place that would pay him $23 Million next season, Carmelo Anthony has not changed his mind about opting out this off-season.

And Carmelo Anthony is on record stating that at this point in his career, the chance to play for championships is the most important thing influencing his decision about where to play next year.

And that leaves a lot of possibilities.

Three to be exact. Carmelo has named three teams as the teams he would most like to run with: Houston, staying in New York (if adequate changes are made), and CHICAGO.

And the last time we heard about New York, it was about them making a furious run for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, only to narrowly miss. And as the Zen-master ponders not having any draft picks to soften the disappointment of missing the playoffs, he must also figure out how to overhaul a dysfunctional lineup of very expensive mistakes made by the aforementioned Dolan.

Houston might be a somewhat similar situation as Chicago, with other All-Star caliber players already on the roster, but for the fact that, being in the Western Conference, all that talent was still only good enough for a first round elimination by the upstart Portland Trailblazers.

Chicago is the perfect place for Melo. All-stars, quality role players, great defense that needs an offense, a coach of the year, a former MVP, all on a team in the Eastern Conference that has the pieces to knock off current top dog, the Miami Heat.

And that is what has Chicago Bulls fans hyped.

And just this week, it was revealed that fellow All-Star and newly-minted Defensive Player of the Year, Joakim Noah, has been texting Anthony about coming to join Chicago since the All-Star Game.

Things certainly have gotten very interesting for Chicago Bulls Basketball!

How confident are you that the Chicago Bulls will get a big name free-agent this summer? Who do you think the Chicago Bulls will add to the team? Will it be enough to get an NBA Championship in 2015? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Rose Lets His Game Do The Talking Once Again, Has 36 Points, 10 Assists To Lead Bulls To 3 Game Lead Over Idle Heat

CHICAGO, IL. Rose remembers the last time his Bulls played the Toronto Raptors; the Raptors celebrated their win a little too much for Rose's taste, and he didn't like that.

Teams around the league are learning that you don't want to make Derrick Rose remember you or make him upset with you. You won't like the payback.

Derrick Rose got his revenge on the Raps as they visited the United Center tonight to the tune of 36 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks.

Here are some highlights that we can show you (BEWARE: Some of this footage contains broken ankles and other sick stuff we've come to expect from DRose!):


It was a complete all around game for the NBA MVP leader, who didn't have to do it alone tonight.

Despite missing Joakim Noah for another game, Carlos Boozer (18 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast), Luol Deng (17 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast), Taj Gibson (15 pts, 9 reb), and Kyle Korver (10 pts on 2 of 3 from 3-point range) all chipped into the Bulls' offensive barrage.

DRose challenged the Raptors with his strength and speed to post 36 points, 10 assists to add to his case for NBA MVP.

The Bulls dominated the first half of the game leading by as much as 13. However, the Raptors fought back in the 3rd quarter to erase the Bulls lead, knotting the game at 74 - 74, before the Bulls managed to regain the advantage and push the lead back up to double digits.

The Raptors kept fighting getting to within 4 points in the 4th quarter before finally succumbing. Jerryd Bayless and DeMar Derozan each had 26 points to lead the Raptors.

The play of the night had to be the recovery by Rose to get back on defense after the turnover and him rising up and blocking James Johnson's shot at the very top of its path. It was an unkind "Welcome Back to Chicago" for James Johnson, a former Chicago Bull, who was traded this season to the Toronto Raptors just before the trade deadline for Miami's 2011 1st Round Draft Pick.

Other than the blocked shot by DRose, Johnson had a respectable game, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists in his return to the United Center after being traded.

The victory was the Chicago Bulls' 56th win of the season, helping Tom Thibodeau surpass Phil Jackson's record for being Chicago's winningest first-year coach, possibly the first of many records and accolades to be garnered by Derrick Rose, Thibodeau, and the Chicago Bulls this season.

The win also pushes the Bulls lead for first place in the Eastern Conference to 3 full games over Miami and 3.5 games over Boston. With only six games remaining in the Chicago Bulls 2010-11 regular season, the doubters, the Boston Celtics, and the Miami Heat are all running out of the same thing... time.