Carmelo Anthony has decided to opt out of the final year of his contract with the New York Knicks and become an unrestricted free agent, according to multiple sources.

Anthony has until Monday to officially inform the team of his plans.

Knicks president Phil Jackson said recently that he hoped Anthony would consider opting into the final year of his contract and testing free agency in the summer of 2015. Jackson has privately expressed that hope to Anthony several times since the end of the regular season.

The Chicago Bulls are one of several teams with whom Anthony would consider signing, according to sources.

According to league sources, Anthony has talked to at least one high-profile person who lives in Chicago about what it's like to be famous in the Windy City.

The Bulls also have reportedly done their due diligence on Anthony in recent days. According to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has reached out to some of Anthony's former coaches to inquire about the seven-time All-Star.

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Jim Belushi has finally earned his keep.

Larry Tweeted:

"Bitches be on my dick Melo!"

...and in other news I talk too much.

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what's least shocking in that picture? that laurence is sporting wood around those ladies, or that he's got a dinky little thing?

/me ducks

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Dinky? If that is comparatively dinky in your opinion, well...SALUTE!

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I've learned too much here...

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This is my signature...

Melo news and then Laurence imagery.....

I don't like the hijacking of this thread. This was serious business.

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Serious business would be pulling off a trade for Love and convincing Melo to sign here as well.

It could happen.

Anyone believing that Melo opted out to use the Bulls as leverage to get more money from the Knicks should be laughed at. He's a max player and would get max money unless he chooses to take less. You should also laugh at any reports planted by the Rockets that they have teams lined up willing to pay Lin and Asik $15M this year.

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Are Lin and Asik's deals expiring? I believe Omer's is but I'm not sure about Lin. And remember, all it takes is one dumb front office to create a market. Never say never, but I just don't see Anthony, Howard and Harden as a good fit. Those are three guys who want their offense. The Bulls it would seem are a perfect fit. Nobody to say "Hey it's my turn this time down the floor."

They are. I just can't imagine a team paying them that much money and only getting a late draft pick as a reward.

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I think you're looking at Lin and Asik the wrong way here. Their deals are extremely attractive to teams in "Salary Cap Hell," brought to you by the New York Knicks.

Any team in that situation would love to have the cap relief those contracts will provide after next year.

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Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

No team without cap space can get them without sending something back. Houston is looking to dump them and get nothing in return.

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Could be used in a sign and trade for big named stars.

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Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

It seems like Houston is desperately trying to shed as much cap space as possible and would even consider moving Chandler Parsons. I wouldn't mind him as a consolation prize if the Bulls strike out on other deals. Parsons is a much more attractive target than Afflalo.

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Veganfan21 I just can't see that happening. Their cap hits are only $8M but any team that gets them will have to pay them $15M. They don't have enough sweeteners to make that work. No team with cap space would want to make that type of deal. The Knicks or Heat definitely won't make it for a sign and trade.

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Perhaps. In any case I think a sign and trade is most advantageous to someone like Melo and NYK. We forget but LBJ didn't sign outright with Miami, he signed with Cleveland then was traded to Miami. I could seeMelo desiring a sign and trade because it gets him the best of both worlds.

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Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

Cleveland got an $18M trade exception. That's far more valuable than dead weight. That's why I couldn't see the Knicks wanting to pay $30M for the right to get Parsons and some late first round draft picks. I don't believe Melo would want to go if Parsons wasn't there. That's why I believe the Bulls are in a better position to make a deal with the Knicks. They will have the player (Mirotic) and the more favorable picks along with the trade exceptions the Knicks can use next offseason.

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