Carmelo Anthony is making sure that he gets the last laugh with all of the trade and free agency rumors surrounding him. While several big named players are preparing to hit the market in the offseason, Anthony is the talk of league. Everyone has an opinion, including his wife on whether or not the All-Star will stay, leave or get traded. Anthony is simply sitting back and laughing at the whole ordeal.
The latest rumors on the Anthony free agent front are that he is considering leaving the Knicks in favor of the Chicago Bulls. The Eastern Conference team is better suited for the future. After trading Luol Deng, they got under the salary cap. A few more offseason moves and Anthony could sign a max contract while teaming up with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Anthony is denying the entire idea.
"Not at all," Anthony said, via New York Daily News. "I don't have a relationship with Thibs [Tom Thibodeau]. That was a good one though."
This is music to Knicks' fans ears. All the team continues to hear is how Anthony is preparing to bolt at the end of the year considering the team's record right now. New York does not have a first-round draft pick for the next few years and their financial situation will make signing solid free agents very tough.
So while the Chicago Bulls rumor is being set aside, the Los Angeles Clippers talks are arriving once again. Gery Woelfel of Basketball Insider reports that Anthony is still heavily considering teaming up with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin out in California to create a new "Big 3." The free-agent-to-be is hoping to stay with a large market team considering his number of endorsements. Los Angeles certainly offers that.
The Anthony to Los Angeles rumors really have nothing to them. If the Clippers are going to sign Anthony, they must get rid of Paul or Griffin first in order to afford the free agent. Trade rumors popped up for a little while but nothing has happened yet and likely will not.
Of course Anthony could still stay with the Knicks. His wife, La La certainly believes he will. The former radio dj went on Bravo TV's "What What Happens Live" and stressed that she believes Anthony will remain in New York and sign a long-term contract. He certainly did not deny what she said.
"That's my wife, I support her," Anthony said. "I support what she said. I don't think she said anything wrong; it's a good thing for her to say that....Go get the book, though."
