Carmelo Anthony is still weighing his options with the Chicago Bulls and NY Knicks after LeBron James signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and if the Bulls can pull a trade with Carlos Boozer for Pau Gasol, there is a chance that Melo will sign with that team over New York, as the Los Angeles Lakers have been eliminated according to ESPN sources.
ESPN New York reports that Anthony is still working on his decision and that he is deciding between the Knicks and the Bulls. The Knicks can offer him a five year deal worth $129 million, while the Bulls have a championship roster ready for him basically with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Pau Gasol could be a part of that group as well, as reports say the team is working on a sign and trade with Carlos Boozer.
One reason Gasol is a good player to play alongside is how he handled himself with the Lakers over the past few years. Gasol has had to deal with incessant trade rumors, as well as issues with Dwight Howard, problems with Mike D'Antoni and the injury to Kobe Bryant. Over time Gasol has shown he is a true pro and Melo likely wants to play with him in NY or Chicago depending on where he signs.
Gasol had been mentioned in trade rumors for years and after losing Howard last year, he came up once again for the Lakers. Although Gasol is older and has more wear and tear than Howard, he might be better for the Lakers and Kobe Bryant than D12 ever was and if he stays he can show that once Kobe is back healthy. Howard is an amazing talent and an amazing rebounder and a great athlete, but there is something missing in his personality that made him not mesh with the Lakers or Bryant before last season and that is why LA will be better off without Howard in the long run now that they have Julius Randle.
Gasol is better than Howard at handling the media, controversy and trade talk and while it hit Gasol at times earlier in his career with the Lakers, not once did he let that bother him on the court. Howard was constantly asked about his future and he let it get to him and that hurt the Lakers before last season. Gasol is better overall shooter than Howard and he also is a champion already, something that Howard has never done and may never do due to his attitude issues and immaturity.
That is one reason why he got along with Kobe and another reason is his loyalty. Kobe knows that Gasol knows what he needs to do to win a championship and he knows that is his top priority and not wondering about where he will play next year or if the fans like him. Another area where the team will be improved without all that is at the line, as he is just a 58 percent shooter, which is pathetic. Gasol has made over 74 percent for his career and Howard has only gotten worse. Gasol averaged 13.7 points and 8.6 rebounds last season and while he has put up better numbers in his career, he should get back to that now that Howard is gone.
