Report: Carmelo Anthony still deciding among Knicks, Bulls, Lakers
The New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers all remain in the hunt to sign free-agent star Carmelo Anthony, CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported Thursday.
The report comes a day after the New York Daily News reported Anthony was expected to re-sign with the Knicks, a move the paper said could come as soon as Thursday. But Anthony's agent, Leon Rose, denied his client had made a decision.
Berger reported Anthony is taking his time making a decision, despite "all signs" before free agency indicating he would re-sign with the team. New Knicks president Phil Jackson revealed to reporters on Thursday that there has been little communication between the team and Anthony over the past few days, saying he texted Anthony several times in the span of the past few days but hadn't heard back.
Jackson, though, said he remained optimistic about keeping his star player in town.
"I felt really good about my conversation with Melo," Jackson said, according to ESPN.com. "We really struck a chord. The two of us, I think, feel really passionately about what we're trying to get accomplished. It's his ability to stay, be patient, lead and watch us develop a winner. There's no instantaneous winner that we think is going to happen to the Knicks right now, but we're going to be a lot better."
Jackson said the Knicks have made five different contract offers to Anthony, including the maximum five years and approximately $129 million allowed under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. The Lakers have said they are willing to offer their maximum of four years and $97 million, while the Bulls would have to clear some cap space to sign Anthony.
Anthony has played with the Knicks since he was traded from the Denver Nuggets midway through the 2010-11 season. The Knicks made the playoffs in Anthony's first three seasons but failed to last season, the first time in Anthony's 11-year career he didn't play in the postseason.
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