Noah to Carmelo: ""If you want to win a ring, come to Chicago"

[Tugg Speedman]

How would a healthy Rose and Melo work on the same team?

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http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/report-joakim-noah-encouraged-carmelo-anthony-to-sign-with-bulls-1.7311372

Report: Joakim Noah encouraged Carmelo Anthony to sign with Bulls

Originally published: March 6, 2014 8:38 PM

Joakim Noah had 14 assists against the Knicks on Sunday afternoon and he could get credit for another one if Carmelo Anthony signs with the Bulls this summer.

According to ESPN.com, Noah had a conversation with Anthony over All-Star Weekend and told him, "If you want to win a ring, come to Chicago."

Anthony has said he will opt out of his contract this offseason and test free agency. The Knicks can offer him a five-year deal for about $129 million, about $34 million more than any other team.

But the Knicks' disappointing season, which could end with Anthony missing the playoffs for the first time in his career, could make him shun the extra money for a chance to win.

Chicago is a logical destination, and the Bulls could have the cap space to sign Anthony if they make other moves, including amnestying Carlos Boozer. Playing with a healthy Derrick Rose and Noah and for coach Tom Thibodeau could be Anthony's best chance to win a championship.

"Melo is still wearing a Knicks uniform," Mike Woodson said Thursday on ESPN New York radio. "I hope he stays with the Knicks for the rest of his career. Whatever was said between Noah and the Chicago Bulls, that's on them."

As it stands now, the Knicks will have ample cap space to be major players in free agency in the summer of 2015, when Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge could hit the open market.

Anthony has to decide whether he is willing to wait a year. He plans to sit with Knicks officials after the season to see what the plan is to build a contender. He has said he would take less money if it helps the Knicks, but he didn't rule out taking less to go to a team that has a chance to win.

[JWags85]

It wouldn't, unless healthy Rose is less focused on scoring.  I also don't see how Melo would fit into Thibs defensive scheme.  No way in hell you could play Jimmer and Melo at the same time, regardless of who else was on the court.

[Sunbelt15]

If Melo went to Chicago, they would brain wash him into hating Lebron and everything he's apart of, like they already do. Not a good fit.

He needs to go to Minnesota. Melo, Love, and Rubio equals ring.

[🏀]

Rose and Melo could actually work. Don't like it, but it would work.

Give me Love.

[Holy hell all time]

Sorry to burst you Bulls (and apparently Wolves?) fans' bubbles, but no team with Carmelo on it is getting a ring.

[Tugg Speedman]

'Melo Should Take Joakim Noah's Advice

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-03-07/melo-should-take-joakim-noah-s-advice

The New York Knicks are likely to pursue tampering charges against Chicago Bulls after reports surfaced of an alleged recruiting conversation between Chicago's Joakim Noah and the Knicks' Carmelo Anthony during All-Star weekend.

According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, Noah urged Anthony to leave New York for Chicago if he wants his legacy to be about winning rather than money. Anthony has been the subject of rampant speculation this season as the Knicks' disastrous play has thrown them out of playoff contention and fueled rumors of potential destinations once the seven-time All-Star opts out of his contract July 1. Chicago has recently emerged as an attractive option, with the country's third-largest media market and a deep team built to make a significant title run once Derrick Rose returns from double knee surgery next season.

Knicks coach Mike Woodson didn't take too kindly to Noah's nudging of Anthony. "Legally, nobody can recruit anyone," he told ESPN New York. "You can't do that at this point. 'Melo is still wearing a Knicks uniform. Whatever was said, that's on them [the Bulls]."

The New York Daily News speculates that Knicks owner James Dolan could pressure the NBA to investigate the conversation as a possible violation of the league's tampering rules, which prevent a player or team from persuading or negotiating with anybody currently under contract with another team. The penalty for tampering could be suspensions and fines up to $50,000. Last year, the league fined three teams for separate tampering infractions involving Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.

As such, the Bulls are keeping mum on the alleged conversation, and unless Broussard's sources come forward to the league, it would be difficult to prove tampering on Noah's part. In any case, it would be absurd if Noah and the Bulls were punished for this, both because it would set a dangerous precedent of legislating casual conversations among friends, and because Noah is absolutely right.

The original intent of the tampering rule seems to be aimed at preventing teams and team representatives from actively recruiting players who are still under contract. Noah might be the face of the Bulls in Rose's absence, but that doesn't exactly give him negotiating power. Furthermore, BREAKING NEWS: Players from different teams are friends. The NBA can't possibly expect that two people who have been the subject of endless speculation aren't going to discuss it. The conversation reportedly began because Anthony asked Noah about playing under Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, who is rumored to be a candidate to replace Woodson at the Knicks' helm at the end of this season. That someone would ask a friend for first-hand experience of his potential future boss isn't unreasonable. Maybe we should just ban all chatter anywhere near the vicinity of a basketball court. It would be at least one area in which the NBA could finally say it rivals the NFL.

Then there's the uncomfortable reality that Noah didn't say anything everybody, including Anthony, didn't already know. When Anthony does opt out of his contract, the reasons he would stay with the Knicks are widely known: He fought tooth-and-nail to wind up here; he's a New York City native; he benefits greatly from the exposure that comes with being the No. 1 player in the No. 1 media market. Most of all, the Knicks can offer Anthony much more money -- around $30 million more -- in what would be the final big contract of his career.

Noticeably absent from that list of reasons: a ring. If I were Anthony, I'd take the millions I've already earned and go somewhere I'd actually have a chance of winning a title, because that place is not going to be New York. As a Knicks fan, I'd hate to see him leave, but most of us have resigned ourselves to our own bleak future, and after decades of ineptitude know that it will take nothing short of revolt to end the tyranny of King Dolan. The ghost of Patrick Ewing should tell Anthony all he needs to know about the importance of a championship to one's legacy and basketball immortality.

To contact the writer of this article: Kavitha A. Davidson at kdavidson19@bloomberg.net.

[Sunbelt15]

Sorry to burst you Bulls (and apparently Wolves?) fans' bubbles, but no team with Carmelo on it is getting a ring.

I bet you someone said the same thing about Wilt, Jerry West, I. Thomas, Jordan, Dirk N., and any other shoot happy player that's won. You never know.....

[Blue Horseshoe]

At this point in his career it is really more about the money. This article by Ken Berger lays it out.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/ken-berger/24471880/how-much-less-is-melo-willing-to-take-to-leave-new-york

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

If Melo went to Chicago, they would brain wash him into hating Lebron and everything he's apart of, like they already do. Not a good fit.

He needs to go to Minnesota. Melo, Love, and Rubio equals ring.

I mean, Lebron is easy to hate whether hes in Chicago or not. I dont see your point.

[77ncaachamps]

Rose is done. Can't see him last many more years.

If Wade's knees are killing him from all of the contact and ard cuts, I can only imagine DRose's situation to end up like Brandon Roy.

Only his jumper will ensure longevity.

[Sunbelt15]

I mean, Lebron is easy to hate whether hes in Chicago or not. I dont see your point.

Easy to hate? Why? Because he left Cleveland, or wins championships, or does too many commercials, or gets too much coverage on Sportscenter?

The only reason to dislike him is that he beats your team. There's no reason to hate or despise him personally.

You sound like those who hated Jordan or Kobe because they won too much and did it with style and flare.

Don't hate, appreciate!!

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Easy to hate? Why? Because he left Cleveland, or wins championships, or does too many commercials, or gets too much coverage on Sportscenter?

The only reason to dislike him is that he beats your team. There's no reason to hate or despise him personally.

You sound like those who hated Jordan or Kobe because they won too much and did it with style and flare.

Don't hate, appreciate!!

Love Jordan and Kobe. I hate Lebron because all he does is bitch and whine. Hes a good player but I despise his personality. He makes it all about him. I couldnt care less if he wins or not but its about how he wins. "not 3 not 4 not 5 not 6" cmon now. Lebron is a grade A prick.

[reinko]

Love Jordan and Kobe. I hate Lebron because all he does is bitch and whine. Hes a good player but I despise his personality. He makes it all about him. I couldnt care less if he wins or not but its about how he wins. "not 3 not 4 not 5 not 6" cmon now. Lebron is a grade A prick.

LeBron makes it about himself,  and he bitches and whines, so that's why you dislike him compared to Jordan and Kobe?

From your postings I reckon you are what, early 20s?  So I'm guessing your NBA watching history is limited to about the last 10 years or so?   But,  no disrespect based off off your age,  but Any respectable Bulls or Lakers fan would say both Kobe and Jordan whined,  complained,  and did make themselves the center because they knew they had to do anything to help their team win.

Are Jordan,  LeBron,  and Kobe all jagholes?   Yes.   But I would argue outside of the Decision,  LeBron is pretty clean, and when all is said and done be either right behind MJ, or be 1a.

[LloydMooresLegs]

It wouldn't, unless healthy Rose is less focused on scoring.  I also don't see how Melo would fit into Thibs defensive scheme.  No way in hell you could play Jimmer and Melo at the same time, regardless of who else was on the court.

agreed with fiirst 2 ppoints; third is moot, as Jimmer will only see the floor if 5 other guys are out

[CTWarrior]

The only reason to dislike him is that he beats your team. There's no reason to hate or despise him personally.

I largely agree with your point, but if I were a Cleveland fan I would hate him for the way he announced he was leaving even more than I would hate him for leaving in the first place.  But other than that, he seems a good guy, plays hard night in and night out and is an all-time top 5 guy, so little not to like.

[JWags85]

LeBron makes it about himself,  and he bitches and whines, so that's why you dislike him compared to Jordan and Kobe?

From your postings I reckon you are what, early 20s?  So I'm guessing your NBA watching history is limited to about the last 10 years or so?   But,  no disrespect based off off your age,  but Any respectable Bulls or Lakers fan would say both Kobe and Jordan whined,  complained,  and did make themselves the center because they knew they had to do anything to help their team win.

Are Jordan,  LeBron,  and Kobe all jagholes?   Yes.   But I would argue outside of the Decision,  LeBron is pretty clean, and when all is said and done be either right behind MJ, or be 1a.

Could you see Jordan, 2-3 days after a 60 point explosion, having a bad game and then coming out and publicly whining about the jerseys affecting him?  That's the kind of crap that makes people hate Lebron.  He's an unreal talent, but he whines about crap like a marginal player needing an edge.  And all stars get calls and look for contact, but for a physical freak of nature, Lebron has taken flopping off contact, from players far smaller to him, to an Oscar worthy level.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Yupp, your boy Lebron was just complaining about his face mask the other day too. Didnt seem to make much of a difference...

[🏀]

Lebron is no doubt 1a to Jordan's 1.

[LloydMooresLegs]

Jimmy took care of LeBron today.

[Sunbelt15]

Love Jordan and Kobe. I hate Lebron because all he does is bitch and whine. Hes a good player but I despise his personality. He makes it all about him. I couldnt care less if he wins or not but its about how he wins. "not 3 not 4 not 5 not 6" cmon now. Lebron is a grade A prick.

You must hate Wade too. Same difference.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

You must hate Wade too. Same difference.

I am going to get absolutely destroyed but I have never like D Wade. Didnt follow MU until the year before I got here so the 2010-11 season.