Only reason he would stay with New York is he could get that 5th year from the Knicks and they could pay 23 million instead of 18 million he would get from someone else. Jimmy Dolan's inept leadership with the Knicks is starting to wear thin with Melo and if he went to Chicago or the Lakers the only 2 teams he would leave NY Knicks for he could make that lost revenue in endorsements in those huge markets. Melo isn't winning a championship if he stays with the NY Knicks their cap situation with Amare and Tyson Chandler means they won't be able to lure a 2nd all-star this off-season and Kevin Love the top 2015 FA is basically a Laker if he gets to FA and the only other team that could get Love is the Celtics because of all the assets they could offer Minnesota and if the C's got him he would have to sign an extension for that to happen.
The Bulls could amnesty Carlos Boozer and trade Mike Dunleavy and that would create enough cap space for Melo to sign for the 18 million he could make as a FA from a non-Knicks team. They wouldn't need to trade Gibson as well. I agree about your first point that is why I said Rose needs to be 85% of what he was when he won the MVP in 2011.
Melo already said hes not waiting until 2015. The Knicks will have to make moves this offseason. Maybe that just means hiring Thibodeau and some minor tweaks until the contracts come off the books but hes not staying in NY for a repeat of this year with these same cast of jokers.
Miami could definitely be a darkhorse. People in Miami have been talking about Bosh taking a max somewhere else while Miami brings in Melo to team up with Lebron. Its not like this thought isnt out there. The media hasnt picked up on it like Melo to LA or Chi-town but it would seem like a very "Pat Riley-Miami" thing to do to have Melo come to Miami and team up with Lebron for perhaps the greatest pairing of star power ever.
Their is 0% chance he doesn't opt out. Mariano Rivera has a better chance to be on the New York Yankees opening day roster than Carmelo Anthony doesn't opt out. He can resign with the Knicks and BANK more money by opting out and resigning with the Knicks. They could pay 110% of his current salary and get his annual AAV to over 23 million per season and he could get a 5 years of that money guaranteed by opting out.
The sports media and following isnt what it is now. I think Lebron and Melo would be absolutely ridiculous exposure wise, although Melo with a contending team vs Lebron could be even more fun.
Still cant believe the Knicks turned down a first from OKC for Shumpert.
youre assuming that he wants max bank.
Shumpert's MRI at the trade deadline probably caused the Thunder to withdraw that deal, but Shumpert isn't anything more than a rotation guy for a good team. If I was the Knicks unless I was convinced he wouldn't be healthy he wouldn't be worth the 28th-30th pick in the draft.
