© Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Carmelo Anthony almost signed with the Bulls in 2014
The Chicago Bulls almost signed NBA legend Carmelo Anthony in 2014. Anthony appeared on ESPN’s First Take in 2019 and revealed that he was close to joining Bulls in 2014 before deciding to return to New York.
“I was going to Chicago. Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah. I was there, right? I was there. And then I started getting whispers behind the scenes. ‘Yo, look, this person ain’t gonna be there. It ain’t really right. This and that.’ And it was all of that started to come up in the midst of my decision-making. I wasn’t going to let anything cloud that,” Anthony revealed.
“I met with New York (Knicks) last. Like, I think it was the last team I met with because I knew that I was ready to move on from that situation because of what I was dealing with and going through in New York.”
Anthony likely referenced then-Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau’s animosity with general manager Gar Forman and vice president John Paxson. The Bulls fired Thibodeau the following year after the Cavaliers eliminated them in the second round of the playoffs.
A prolific scorer
Melo established himself as one of the most prolific scorers in the league, putting up impressive numbers with the Nuggets and Knicks.
Then, after a brief stint with the Thunder, Anthony signed with the Rockets in 2018. He played only 10 games for them before being traded to the Bulls, who eventually waived him. That was the second time he almost joined the Bulls.
Chicago planned to buy out Anthony’s contract, but in the end they simply waived him, which means he was never part of the roster. Melo was not in his prime back then, but the Bulls could have given him a chance.
Melo left his mark
The Trail Blazers signed Anthony in November 2019 and he became a key contributor, helping them reach the playoffs in his two seasons with the team.
Melo was also a valuable contributor off the bench for the Lakers in the 2021-22 season (his last year in the league), averaging 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range in 26 minutes over 69 games.
Anthony’s career has had its ups and downs, but he has remained one of the most respected and admired players in the NBA. He has proven time and time again that he is one of the greatest scorers in league history, and he will surely be remembered for years to come, whether he returns or not.
Melo’s future in the league remains uncertain for his biggest fans, but there is no doubt that he has left his mark on the NBA.
