The Chicago Bulls are targeting Carmelo Anthony this offseason and he is their free agency priority and to get him signed, a trade with Carlos Boozer, Tony Snell or Jimmy Butler could be in the cards, while names like Lance Stephenson, Paul Pierce, Pau Gasol and Chandler Parsons could be options on the free agent market if Anthony signs back with the Knicks or another team like the Houston Rockets.
The Bulls have been looking at Anthony all offseason and they see him as the missing piece of their championship puzzle this season. According to ESPN.com, Anthony met with the Bulls and is now moving on to the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets before the Lakers and then the Knicks again, meaning the teams may have to wait and see before making other moves. Anthony is an All-Star caliber scorer and that is what the Bulls need now after ranking first in defense and last in offense.
Derrick Rose needs more support and he showed off his recovery to Anthony, while Taj Gibson likely remains in the mix after his name came up in trade rumors. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Gibson was in the pitch meeting with Anthony and that likely means he is not getting traded at this time to help clear space for Anthony. Boozer is likely out of the mix after making over $15 million last season and he had his worst year with the Bulls in 2013-14 and now he likely is gone for Tom Thibodeau's crew. The Bulls are looking to retool after dealing with another season without Derrick Rose in the lineup and if he can stay healthy, Chicago should be a championship contender in the east this year.
Anthony has been the main focus for the Bulls in free agency and if he opts to sign elsewhere, the team may look at other names like Lance Stephenson, Pau Gasol, Chandler Parsons and Paul Pierce as alternative options. Last season Pierce averaged 13.5 points and 4.6 rebounds with the Nets and he could be on his way out of town after Jason Kidd left and he could be a solid veteran addition to the team. The Bulls were the worst offensive team in the league last season and now they likely will focus on that this offseason. That is one reason why the team traded for Doug McDermott at the draft and now they are looking to add more.
Anthony is getting wooed by the Knicks, Mavericks and Rockets along with the Lakers and the Bulls and his choice could have huge ramifications for other teams. The Clippers are also chasing Pierce and he could be an option for the teams that miss out on Anthony. The Knicks feel confident that he will sign, while Stephenson and Parsons are two attractive names that could be in the mix if they miss out on Anthony. Parsons had solid numbers last season, while Stephenson is a very talented player if not a big head case. The Bulls need to make major moves this offseason on offense and Anthony is the main priority.
