Report: Joakim Noah still recruiting Carmelo Anthony to Bulls

Carmelo Anthony would provide the defensive-minded Bulls with a much-needed scoring punch. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Bulls center Joakim Noah is still reportedly recruiting Knicks franchise forward Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls, with the Chicago's big man reportedly texting him as recently as last week, a day after the Bulls suffered a season ending loss to the Washington Wizards on April 29.

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times,citing several league sources including one of Noah's teammates in Chicago, the two players have been engaged in conversations throughout the second half of the season amid reports in March that Noah tried to recruit him to Chicago while they were in New Orleans for NBA All-Star weekend.

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That specific report about the alleged discussions in New Orleans prompted speculation at the time that Noah could be subject to a fine or suspension for violating league tampering rules  but a league investigation never occurred and Noah said he wouldn't address that kind of" gossip." But he stopped short of denying the conversations happened, saying only it "doesn't matter." Head coach Tom Thibodeau chimed in, calling the reports "nonsense."

According to Cowley, Noah has been urging other teammates to join in on his reported talks to bring Anthony to Chicago. He has pushed for the team to exhaust all efforts to bring Anthony to the Bulls save for getting rid of forward-center Taj Gibson, who has three years and $25 million remaining on his contract with Chicago.

The Bulls finished the regular season 48-34 before bowing out to the Wizards in the first round of the playoffs, while the Knicks failed to make the postseason, finishing 37-45.

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