[h=1]How Chicago gets Melo[/h][h=3]A sign-and-trade agreement for Anthony would make Bulls and Knicks happy[/h]By Bradford Doolittle | ESPN Insider
Carmelo Anthony speculation remained at the forefront of NBA offseason buzz over the weekend, but this time there was real news. Anthony has informed the New York Knicks of his decision to opt out of the last year of his contract, and he will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the month. This is no surprise, but as Anthony heads for the open market for the first time in his career, it is clear: Anthony is willing to sacrifice some money in order to maximize his chances of winning a championship next season. Anthony would have made $23.3 million had he opted in. Now, even if he re-signs with the Knicks, the maximum he can get is 5 percent more than his salary last season, which would put him at about $22.5 million. Also, by hitting the market, he's faced with the likelihood that teams are going to ask him to give up even more than the $900,000 or so he's already kissed goodbye.
Anthony will look at other teams beyond Chicago, with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat the leading possibilities. From the Knicks' perspective, there is a debate about whether it's better to just let Melo walk or do everything they can to get him to stay. At this point, the decision is really out of their hands. As of now, Chicago looks like the leader in the Melo derby, so let's look at the most likely scenarios that would put Anthony in the Windy City.
[h=3]Scenario 1: Bulls sign Melo outright for the max[/h]
Chicago could probably make this happen, but it's less than ideal. To clear the amount of cap space to pay Anthony $22.5 million for his first season, the Bulls would have to:
1. Exercise their amnesty rights on Carlos Boozer.
2. Trade the Nos. 16 and 19 picks in the draft.
3. Deal away veterans Mike Dunleavy, Taj Gibson and probably Greg Smith and Tony Snell.
4. Waive non-guaranteed players Mike James, Lou Amundson and Ronnie Brewer.
It could be even worse. If the Bulls are intent on bringing European prospect Nikola Mirotic over from Spain, they might have to give up Jimmy Butler as well. That prospect depends on whether Mirotic is able to work out a discount in his $3.4 million buyout with Real Madrid, and how much (or little) he's willing to earn as an NBA rookie. If Chicago is lucky, it might be able to keep Butler and still squeeze in Mirotic, leaving it with a roster of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Anthony, Butler and Mirotic. The Bulls would have to fill out the final eight spots on the roster with the room exception of $2.7 million and at least seven minimum salary contracts. From that group would likely be a starting power forward, unless Mirotic is ready to step in. The Bulls would really be stripping away their depth by bowing to a maximum salary demand from Anthony.
<OFFER></OFFER>
But what about the Knicks? New York would still be without a first-round draft pick. Phil Jackson reportedly covets a spot in this week's draft, and also reportedly has his eye on former North Carolina wing P.J. Hairston. While it's likely some picks will change hands this week, first-rounders are being treated like gold in this draft, and all the Knicks really have to offer is $1.8 million in cash, or possibly Iman Shumpert. Ironically, the Bulls, who own two first-round picks, may be one of the few teams looking to deal picks. If New York lets Anthony walk, it gets no assets in return, and the Knicks would still be well over the cap thanks to the bloated (and expiring) deals of Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani and Tyson Chandler. However, with Anthony off the books, New York would fall below the tax line, giving Jackson a little more maneuverability going forward.
[h=3]Scenario 2: Bulls sign Melo for less than max, but as much as they can[/h]
The Knicks' situation doesn't change here: Tax savings and long-term cap space remain the only tangible returns for letting Anthony leave. Chicago, however, could enhance its depth by getting Anthony to agree to a little less. How much less? The amount that makes the most sense is $17.8 million. That's what's left after Chicago follows the same steps as above, but keeps Gibson and Smith.
While we have Smith going away in the first scenario, most likely the Bulls are stuck with him because of timing. Chicago signed the solid, but nonessential, backup big man to a guaranteed deal on April 14, which means he can't be traded until July 14. Given the number of steps it might take to land Anthony, the lag time could be a problem. In any event, the Bulls would retain a starting five, with Gibson in the lineup instead of a raw Mirotic or a free agent to be named. Depth is still an issue, a problem that can only be solved by ...
[h=3]Scenario 3: Bulls acquire Melo in a sign-and-trade agreement[/h]
Chicago will be pushing hard for this option. There are a lot of possible forms this could take, many of them involving other teams, but the one that makes the most sense is a fairly straightforward deal: Chicago sends its two first-round picks this year -- who would have already been selected -- plus the top-10 protected pick they own in 2015 from Sacramento, Boozer and Dunleavy to New York for Anthony and Ray Felton. Chicago might also have to include some of its non-guaranteed money to match salaries.
Here's why it works:
The Bulls wouldn't have to amnesty away the $16.8 million due Boozer, which would appeal to owner Jerry Reinsdorf. They would be able to pay Anthony more, possibly even up to the max, which is why he might push for it even though there are fewer advantages for doing so than there were under the previous CBA. Chicago keeps more of its own players, with Snell, Butler and Gibson all sticking around. By staying above the cap, Chicago would have more avenues for filling the roster, including the full midlevel exception of $5.3 million -- which could be used on Mirotic -- and the biannual exception of $2.1 million. Only two or three roster spots would have to be filled by minimum-salaried players. The Felton and Dunleavy aspect works for Chicago, as the Bulls would land a top backup for Rose, and Felton would also offer some insurance at the position. This scenario leaves the Bulls at around an $80 million payroll, which has them paying the tax, but staying under the projected tax apron of $81 million.
New York lands future assets galore without adding any money beyond next season. They clear away Felton, who has a player option for 2015-16, by taking on the triangle-friendly Dunleavy, whose contract is expiring. The Knicks would remain over the tax apron, but since next season is "transitional," Jackson could look to move Chandler to free up money. Jackson might try to convince Chicago to take J.R. Smith, or cough up Mirotic, but both notions would be tough for the Bulls to swallow. Plus, New York would be faced with the same short-term difficulties in paying Mirotic, and he might not want to come over at all if he's traded. Real Madrid would surely love to keep him overseas. If it comes down to taking Boozer, or letting Melo walk for no future-building assets in return, I don't know how Jackson says no.
Other teams might come up with better trade scenarios for New York, but again, it's Anthony's call, not Jackson's. A Bulls-Knicks sign-and-trade is the most logical scenario on the table for both teams if -- and this is a key "if" -- Anthony makes up his mind to leave New York, and decides Chicago is where he must go. By pushing the sign-and-trade option, Chicago can ratchet up its core talent without sacrificing depth. The Knicks have to agree to all this, but doing so might be the best move they've made since they traded for Melo in the first place.
Carmelo Anthony speculation remained at the forefront of NBA offseason buzz over the weekend, but this time there was real news. Anthony has informed the New York Knicks of his decision to opt out of the last year of his contract, and he will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the month. This is no surprise, but as Anthony heads for the open market for the first time in his career, it is clear: Anthony is willing to sacrifice some money in order to maximize his chances of winning a championship next season. Anthony would have made $23.3 million had he opted in. Now, even if he re-signs with the Knicks, the maximum he can get is 5 percent more than his salary last season, which would put him at about $22.5 million. Also, by hitting the market, he's faced with the likelihood that teams are going to ask him to give up even more than the $900,000 or so he's already kissed goodbye.
Anthony will look at other teams beyond Chicago, with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat the leading possibilities. From the Knicks' perspective, there is a debate about whether it's better to just let Melo walk or do everything they can to get him to stay. At this point, the decision is really out of their hands. As of now, Chicago looks like the leader in the Melo derby, so let's look at the most likely scenarios that would put Anthony in the Windy City.
[h=3]Scenario 1: Bulls sign Melo outright for the max[/h]
Chicago could probably make this happen, but it's less than ideal. To clear the amount of cap space to pay Anthony $22.5 million for his first season, the Bulls would have to:
1. Exercise their amnesty rights on Carlos Boozer.
2. Trade the Nos. 16 and 19 picks in the draft.
3. Deal away veterans Mike Dunleavy, Taj Gibson and probably Greg Smith and Tony Snell.
4. Waive non-guaranteed players Mike James, Lou Amundson and Ronnie Brewer.
It could be even worse. If the Bulls are intent on bringing European prospect Nikola Mirotic over from Spain, they might have to give up Jimmy Butler as well. That prospect depends on whether Mirotic is able to work out a discount in his $3.4 million buyout with Real Madrid, and how much (or little) he's willing to earn as an NBA rookie. If Chicago is lucky, it might be able to keep Butler and still squeeze in Mirotic, leaving it with a roster of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Anthony, Butler and Mirotic. The Bulls would have to fill out the final eight spots on the roster with the room exception of $2.7 million and at least seven minimum salary contracts. From that group would likely be a starting power forward, unless Mirotic is ready to step in. The Bulls would really be stripping away their depth by bowing to a maximum salary demand from Anthony.
<OFFER></OFFER>
But what about the Knicks? New York would still be without a first-round draft pick. Phil Jackson reportedly covets a spot in this week's draft, and also reportedly has his eye on former North Carolina wing P.J. Hairston. While it's likely some picks will change hands this week, first-rounders are being treated like gold in this draft, and all the Knicks really have to offer is $1.8 million in cash, or possibly Iman Shumpert. Ironically, the Bulls, who own two first-round picks, may be one of the few teams looking to deal picks. If New York lets Anthony walk, it gets no assets in return, and the Knicks would still be well over the cap thanks to the bloated (and expiring) deals of Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani and Tyson Chandler. However, with Anthony off the books, New York would fall below the tax line, giving Jackson a little more maneuverability going forward.
[h=3]Scenario 2: Bulls sign Melo for less than max, but as much as they can[/h]
The Knicks' situation doesn't change here: Tax savings and long-term cap space remain the only tangible returns for letting Anthony leave. Chicago, however, could enhance its depth by getting Anthony to agree to a little less. How much less? The amount that makes the most sense is $17.8 million. That's what's left after Chicago follows the same steps as above, but keeps Gibson and Smith.
While we have Smith going away in the first scenario, most likely the Bulls are stuck with him because of timing. Chicago signed the solid, but nonessential, backup big man to a guaranteed deal on April 14, which means he can't be traded until July 14. Given the number of steps it might take to land Anthony, the lag time could be a problem. In any event, the Bulls would retain a starting five, with Gibson in the lineup instead of a raw Mirotic or a free agent to be named. Depth is still an issue, a problem that can only be solved by ...
[h=3]Scenario 3: Bulls acquire Melo in a sign-and-trade agreement[/h]
Chicago will be pushing hard for this option. There are a lot of possible forms this could take, many of them involving other teams, but the one that makes the most sense is a fairly straightforward deal: Chicago sends its two first-round picks this year -- who would have already been selected -- plus the top-10 protected pick they own in 2015 from Sacramento, Boozer and Dunleavy to New York for Anthony and Ray Felton. Chicago might also have to include some of its non-guaranteed money to match salaries.
Here's why it works:
The Bulls wouldn't have to amnesty away the $16.8 million due Boozer, which would appeal to owner Jerry Reinsdorf. They would be able to pay Anthony more, possibly even up to the max, which is why he might push for it even though there are fewer advantages for doing so than there were under the previous CBA. Chicago keeps more of its own players, with Snell, Butler and Gibson all sticking around. By staying above the cap, Chicago would have more avenues for filling the roster, including the full midlevel exception of $5.3 million -- which could be used on Mirotic -- and the biannual exception of $2.1 million. Only two or three roster spots would have to be filled by minimum-salaried players. The Felton and Dunleavy aspect works for Chicago, as the Bulls would land a top backup for Rose, and Felton would also offer some insurance at the position. This scenario leaves the Bulls at around an $80 million payroll, which has them paying the tax, but staying under the projected tax apron of $81 million.
New York lands future assets galore without adding any money beyond next season. They clear away Felton, who has a player option for 2015-16, by taking on the triangle-friendly Dunleavy, whose contract is expiring. The Knicks would remain over the tax apron, but since next season is "transitional," Jackson could look to move Chandler to free up money. Jackson might try to convince Chicago to take J.R. Smith, or cough up Mirotic, but both notions would be tough for the Bulls to swallow. Plus, New York would be faced with the same short-term difficulties in paying Mirotic, and he might not want to come over at all if he's traded. Real Madrid would surely love to keep him overseas. If it comes down to taking Boozer, or letting Melo walk for no future-building assets in return, I don't know how Jackson says no.
Other teams might come up with better trade scenarios for New York, but again, it's Anthony's call, not Jackson's. A Bulls-Knicks sign-and-trade is the most logical scenario on the table for both teams if -- and this is a key "if" -- Anthony makes up his mind to leave New York, and decides Chicago is where he must go. By pushing the sign-and-trade option, Chicago can ratchet up its core talent without sacrificing depth. The Knicks have to agree to all this, but doing so might be the best move they've made since they traded for Melo in the first place.
