The NBA appears to be taking tampering very seriously. After reports surfaced that the Chicago Bulls were recruiting Carmelo Anthony to the team in free agency, everyone appears to be speaking out on the matter. The New York Knicks want an investigation on the matter after Mike Woodson ripped Joakim Noah over talking up the team. Now, Noah is going on the defense about the "gossip" report.
ESPN's Chris Broussard started it all off after he reported that Noah spoke with Anthony over the All-Star break about signing with the Chicago Bulls in the offseason. It is no secret the guard can opt out of his contract with the New York Knicks in favor of wherever he wants and after already announcing he would do so, every team wants him. Noah wants a new Big 3 in Chicago and gave his sales pitch to Anthony over the break. Now he is forced to go on the defense after being accused of tampering.
"I feel a lot of gossip," Noah said, via the Chicago Tribune. "I think we all know that we're in a good place. Our team is in a good place. We've got a healthy group, it's a healthy environment, and we're not going to let gossip get in the way of what we're doing. We've gone through so much this year, so it's not going to be a little gossip that gets out there.''
One person that does not believe it is all gossip is Woodson. The Knicks head coach is not all that pleased over the recent report of Noah's comments towards his star guard. New York is still holding out hope that the extra year and $30 million they can offer on a contract is enough to pursue Anthony to re-sign with the team. So when Woodson heard that other players were recruiting him to head elsewhere, he was not thrilled.
"You know legally, nobody can recruit anyone," Woodson said in a radio appearance on ESPN 98.7. "You can't do that at this point. Melo is still wearing a Knicks uniform and I hope he stays with the Knicks for the rest of his career. So whatever was said between Noah and the Chicago Bulls, that's on them."
Regardless of Noah's denial, Mitch Lawrence at the New York Daily News reports the Knicks are expected to ask the NBA to investigate the situation. If Broussard's report turns out to be true, Chicago can expect a nice-sized fine headed their way.
