One of the main prizes of the 2014 free agent class is superstar scorer Carmelo Anthony. Although the New York Knicks can re-sign him and pay him the most money, there are a few places Anthony could land to become a part of a better situation than what he has with the Knicks. Here’s the rundown:
1. Chicago Bulls
In the Windy City, the biggest need is so obvious that it’s hard to look elsewhere: a scorer. The Bulls need someone who can put the ball in the basket. Chicago has no problem defending, and it can protect the rim with Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. The team needs wing shooting and scoring. Melo would bring that to the Bulls, making them much more of a factor in the Eastern Conference and the league as a whole.
2. Los Angeles Clippers
This is an intriguing selection and one that hasn’t really been talked about all that much. The Clippers did not have consistent jump shooting during the playoffs. They had Chris Paul as a facilitator, but J.J. Redick was not as good as he needed to be. Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes also failed to be consistent shooters in the postseason. If Carmelo can come to Los Angeles and not play for the Lakers, he would be able to blend into a Clipper roster where he could create a lot of opportunities for Blake Griffin. The presence of Doc Rivers as a head coach wouldn’t hurt.
3. Houston Rockets
The problem here is that the Rockets already have a perimeter scorer in James Harden, someone who would take a lot of perimeter shots for a team that likes to spread the court and get corner threes. However, Melo can play the power forward position. He’s done it a lot with the New York Knicks in recent seasons. Melo would certainly have a chance to win a championship in Houston. Making him a good fit on the roster would probably require some adjustments by the Rockets, however.
