Melo's agent courting Bulls

[djohn2oo8]

As trade discussions with the New Jersey Nets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/njn/) stall, the representatives for Carmelo Anthony (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3706/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3706/news) are engaging the Chicago Bulls (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/chi/) with hopes of pushing them into becoming a serious bidder for the Denver Nuggets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/den/) star, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

Anthony has long been enthusiastic about a possible trade to the Bulls, but Denver and Chicago officials had been previously unable to come to terms on a deal. Bulls executives John Paxson and Gar Forman have investigated the possibility of acquiring Anthony, but thus far haven’t been willing to include the one player the Nuggets most covet: center Joakim Noah (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4287/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4287/news).

Anthony’s agents are under pressure to make a deal happen for the All-Star forward, who sources said has become an increasingly unhappy client. The Nuggets need to agree on a package with a team in which Anthony’s willing to sign a contract extension. Talks with New Jersey and Anthony’s preferred choice, the New York Knicks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/nyk/), have dragged on since Anthony asked for a trade in August.


Nevertheless, William Wesley – Worldwide Wes – is expected to travel to Chicago for Bulls games on Thursday and Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/dal/) and Cleveland Cavaliers (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/cle/), a source said. Wesley unsuccessfully pushed LeBron James (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3704/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3704/news) to sign with the Bulls as a free agent, and now has an interest in Anthony ending up there. Wesley represents Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau for CAA.

Despite that Leon Rose is certified as the agent of record for Anthony, everyone in the NBA knows Wesley is responsible for delivering the Nuggets star to CAA and is hands-on when trying to push teams into deals for the agency’s clients.


Chicago has wanted the Nuggets to take forward Luol Deng (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3824/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3824/news) as a cornerstone to the deal, but Denver hasn’t been interested in absorbing the three years and $40 million left on his contract after this season. The Nuggets want an array of young players and picks the Bulls will have a difficult time providing. Still, Chicago badly needs another scoring option
and Anthony is one of the NBA’s elite offensive players.


Noah is recuperating from wrist surgery and is targeting a late February return. Thibodeau is an immense believer in Noah and values his defensive and rebounding presence in the middle. He’s also considered him an underrated offensive player. The Bulls signed Noah to a five-year, $60 million contract extension in the preseason.


Meanwhile, the Nets are still trying to make a deal for Anthony, but sources said team officials have no idea whether he will ever commit to a contract extension with them. New Jersey is still talking with the Nuggets about a three-team deal also involving the Detroit Pistons (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/det/), and has tried to arrange a meeting between owner Mikhail Prokhorov and Anthony.

The key components of the deal would send Anthony, Chauncey Billups (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3174/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3174/news) and Richard Hamilton (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3330/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3330/news) to the Nets, and Devin Harris (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3822/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3822/news), Derrick Favors (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4718/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4718/news), Anthony Morrow (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4527/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4527/news) and draft picks to Denver. The Nuggets are trying to include Renaldo Balkman (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4148/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4148/news) in the deal – and bring back rookie Damion James (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4755/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4755/news) – but the Nets are still resisting exchanging those players, sources said.





http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-anthonybulls011911

[Spur_Fanatic]

I don't think he is trying to play in Chicago.
He just using the Bulls to rush thing with the Nuggets.

At the same time, playing with the Bulls next to Rose is a ncie cushion.
I have a feeling Melo will end up tasting free agency, with a lockout salary.

[crc21209]

Will this shit just end already....damn.

[Jloyola]

Melo to Chicago would be instantly be the #2 team in the east behind Boston, that's if they dont give up Noah and sending Deng to Den. Miami would not have a chance against the Bulls in a 7 game series.

[Darth_Pelican]

Will this shit just end already....damn.

[Mark in Austin]

I think he has a better chance of winning a ring in Chicago than he does in NY or NJ. And a coach like Tibs would be good for Carmelo. But no way do I give up Noah if I'm Chicago. In terms of likely talent NJ will get back, I'd say the order is NJ, NY, Chicago.

If I'm Denver, I tell New York I want this deal: Trade Machine (http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4b4ze85), plus 4 picks. Then let Walsh go out and buy picks from teams at 3 million a pick until he gets enough of them together, and be done with it.

[jjktkk]

Melo playing the 3, the Bulls would have to trade Deng.

[monosylab1k]

at some point the players are going to realize that World Wide Wes is a snake oil salesman, right?

[DJ Mbenga]

the nuggets wont take deng so the deal will never happen. the nuggets just have to swallow their pride and accept a deal from the knicks. the faster it happens the easier life will be after he is finally gone.

[rjv]

noah is solid but not equal value to the anthony at all. and the nuggets would not inherit any lottery picks in the process.

[DMX7]

Hey should go to the Miami Heat!

[DMC]

Melo-drama, the InDecision 2010 - 2011 -2012 - ???

[dbestpro]

Denver should do what ever it takes to sign Anthony and then ship his ass off to Cleveland.