MULTIPLE SOURCES: Noah recruiting Melo to join Bulls

[benji]

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/ ... cago-bulls

Joakim Noah wants to win a ring. To help him achieve that goal, he wants Carmelo Anthony on the Chicago Bulls.

That's why Noah, Chicago's center, approached Anthony over All-Star Weekend last month about joining the Bulls, according to sources with knowledge of the conversation.

The sources said Noah told Anthony something to this effect: You can go to Los Angeles, but if you really want a ring, if you really want your legacy to be about winning, you should come to Chicago.

Anthony responded by telling Noah that he admires how hard the Bulls play and how hungry they are. Anthony also told Noah, according to the sources, that Derrick Rose is his son's favorite player.

The conversation between Anthony and Noah started as a discussion about what it's like to play for Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. With rumors about Chicago going after Anthony as well as about Thibodeau possibly coaching the New York Knicks next season, Anthony wanted to know about Thibodeau.

From there, the discussion turned to Noah telling Anthony he should join the Bulls.

[benji]

omg

[NovU]

Nice. I wonder how the Knicks fans will take it.

[Andrew]

I'm actually intrigued by that possibility. While there are certainly legitimate knocks against him, I feel that Melo does get a bit of a bad rap at times; if nothing else, he's a pretty good scorer and that's something the Bulls need. I think they have the players and the coach to make it work, and if it were to happen, I could see things panning out better than they did in New York.

At this stage, I have my doubts about it actually happening, but I wouldn't be disappointed if it did. I'd be optimistic if it came to fruition.

[shadowgrin]

[Moz]

I don't know... It seems this one's a longshot with all the reports that there's a high possibility that Mirotic will finally come over this off season and Carmelo willing to cooperate retooling with the Knicks management... also for them to land Melo they need to get rid of Dunleavy/Gibson and let Augustin walk which I reckon is not appealing compared to the Mirotic deal...

[NovU]

Mirotic to me looks kinda like another european style perimeter big (ie. Mirza Teletovic).

Isn't Melo for Dunleav/Taj/DJ a good deal? You get Noah/Rose/Melo trio. 4th or 5th best player kinda becomes a later-issue.

[Moz]

Isn't Melo for Dunleav/Taj/DJ a good deal? You get Noah/Rose/Melo trio. 4th or 5th best player kinda becomes a later-issue.

But that's the problem... once they got Melo they'll have trouble getting good quality role players (unless he take a huge paycut)... so is a

Melo/Taj (or Dunleavy)/Noah/Rose/Butler/Snell/Draft picks/10 day contracts or MLE guy

more promising than

Taj/Mirotic/Noah/Rose/Butler/Dunleavy/Augustin/Snell/Draft picks/10 day contracts or MLE guy

they will also have problems with Jimmy Butler's extension in the future so add him up to that...

[Andrew]

Acquiring Melo one way or another does have its cons and there are question marks, but Mirotic is obviously unproven in the NBA, so there's no guarantee that it's any better. Jimmy Butler's extension is certainly a good point, though.

I think it's probably a longshot as well so I'm not going to get carried away with it, but I'm definitely not vehemently against it as I expect some Bulls fans might be. Like I said, it's an interesting possibility.

[Moz]

Acquiring Melo one way or another does have its cons and there are question marks, but Mirotic is obviously unproven in the NBA, so there's no guarantee that it's any better

Here's an article (via Kelly Scaletta on Bleacher Report) explaining the options the Bulls have if they go with Mirotic...

Between trading Luol Deng, and potentially amnestying Carlos Boozer, the Bulls would have $16 million next year, per ShamSports.com, with between $3 million and $4 million of that going to cap holds, leaving them $13-14 million to spend on Mirotic and one other player.

If they trade Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s contract in a salary dump, that would give them an additional $3.3 million.

They also have the Deng and Marquis Teague trade exceptions they can use, as well as the mini-mid-level exception available to teams below the cap. They could sign players to non-guaranteed contracts, then utilize the trade exceptions to acquire better players so that the quality of the minimum players shouldn’t be of great concern.

That doesn’t affect them in terms of how much they can spend in free agency, but it gives them a kind of “depth-buffer.” They can use the mid-level exception on D.J. Augustin and use the trade exceptions and rookies to solidify the roster.

Per Sean Deveney of Sporting News, a three-year, $16 million offer to Mirotic would be enough to make it profitable for Mirotic to sign. But, to be safe, let’s project a four-year, $25.6 million contract, which would be a deal starting with $6 million and giving him the maximum pay raise each season.

That would leave the Bulls with $10 million to sign another free agent.

Joe Cowley, of the Chicago Sun Times reports that Lance Stephenson would be the Bulls’ “Plan B” if they're are unable to land superstars Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. They could offer Stephenson a four-year, $42.7 million deal.

Matching that deal would put the Indiana Pacers over $75 million, per ShamSports.com, which would be well into the tax range, so there’s no guarantee that they would do so.

What if the Bulls don’t trade Dunleavy? A couple of lower-stature players they could look into are Rodney Stuckey and Trevor Ariza.

not bad afterall... they can resign key players and their rookies plus they have a chance getting another quality player...

and Noah's response to the rumor

phpBB [video]

[SoF'nAwesome]

all false. melo to lakers

[shadowgrin]

Well the Bulls were one of Melo's preferred destinations when he was whining in Denver, it's up to Melo now if he really wants to go to the Bulls as a FA.

[NovU]

Joe Cowley, of the Chicago Sun Times reports that Lance Stephenson would be the Bulls’ “Plan B” if they're are unable to land superstars Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. They could offer Stephenson a four-year, $42.7 million deal.

Matching that deal would put the Indiana Pacers over $75 million, per ShamSports.com, which would be well into the tax range, so there’s no guarantee that they would do so.

What if the Bulls don’t trade Dunleavy? A couple of lower-stature players they could look into are Rodney Stuckey and Trevor Ariza.

I like the sound of it though I don't believe the Pacers will let him go.

Lance Stephenson according to the Box Score Geeks is nearly top 10 in Wins Produced and nearly top 15 in Wins Produced Per 48 Minutes in the league which is absolutely astounding. Basketball-Reference depicts him less valuable but still has very solid numbers all around. But the point remains that he's been developing right and has great upside, which in my opinion should justify $42.7mil - 4year kind of contract.

What do you guys think?

[Andrew]

Neither Rodney Stuckey nor Trevor Ariza are particularly appealing options. If that's the best they can do, I'm not exactly sold on the Mirotic plan. Lance Stephenson is a far more appealing prospect, though.

I don't know why sportswriters are even bothering to bring LeBron James into the discussion. He's not leaving Miami...well, it would be very, very surprising if he did, let's put it that way.

[Moz]

Well as I've said it's a longshot with the Bulls salary and the management's method and attitude on acquiring players... All of this fuss will die-out anyway once that Phil Jackson to NY rumor comes into fruition...

[NovU]

When the Pacers signed David West to a big contract, I kinda thought that would put Lance Stephenson's signing to a jeopardy (kinda similar to OKC's decision to pay Ibaka over Harden). I still think Lance's not going anywhere but things could change if the playoffs doesn't go too well for the Pacers.

Perhaps, the Bulls could get lucky and land Lance. Half the price of Melo and arguably just as good (& younger). I like this scenario the best for the Bulls.