The Chicago Bulls remain in the mix for LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony if they opt out as free agents this summer and a Carlos Boozer trade or amnesty clause action with Taj Gibson would likely clear enough cap space so that the team can compete with the NY Knicks and Miami Heat in free agency in the summer of 2014, as the Bulls and Houston Rockets have been mentioned along with the Los Angeles Lakers as the most likely candidates to sign those players.
The Bulls are in a tough financial situation, but they can make some room with making a move with Boozer and that could give them the flexibility to try and sign Anthony. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Bulls will be making a serious run at both James and Anthony if they opt out, while the Rockets will be looking to sign Anthony, as they can envision a championship team with Dwight Howard, James Harden and Anthony all playing together. ESPN.com is reporting that the league is raising the salary cap and luxury tax thresholds this season and that could add some intrigue to the mix as well.
The report says that the cap will be going up about $5 million and while that number is not official yet, the report says that the cap will go from $58.6 million to $63.2 million and the luxury tax threshold will be moved from $71.7 million to $77 million. The move of those numbers could give teams like the Bulls and Rockets a chance to sign James and Anthony, as they could give more money in their deals. While the Knicks are the favorite because they can give the extra year for the longest deal at around $130 million, Melo and James now might be think about giving up some of that extra money since the other deals will be higher than expected.
Both James and Anthony are expected to opt out, but James is looking like he will stay in Miami, especially if he doesn't win another championship this season. Anthony is the more likely of the two to leave since he had his first home playoff session this season after missing it for the first time in his career and on top of that he has never had the chance to be a free agent. Anthony was drafted to the Nuggets, signed an extension and then was traded to the Knicks, where he signed another extension and this will be his last chance to sign a free agent deal when he is in the prime of his talents at 29 years old.
Boozer made $15,300,000 this season and he could be a casualty in the summer if the team is serious about making a run at either Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James as free agent. Boozer would have to be moved to get Anthony or James in, as his contract is just simply too much, while the Rockets would have to move Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin and that could be easier next season, as each has expiring contracts that teams may be more willing to take. King James may stay in South Beach and Melo may remain in the Big Apple, but the salary cap sure could make it interesting if either Chicago or Houston makes moves to position themselves as options for the superstars, who may never hit the open market like this again.
