Tuesday brought forth the beginning of the NBA free agency period and, with it, the subsequent Carmelo Anthony World Tour.
The tour began with a visit to Chicago to meet with Bulls staff and players. During his stop in the Windy City, he was greeted by coach Tom Thibodeau, who rode with him to the United Center, where they met general manager Gar Forman and executive vice president John Paxson along with Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose—who gave a private workout to demonstrate his health.
The visit, which lasted the better part of the day, included a tour of the Bulls’ practice facility and dinner at a downtown hotel.
Chicago remains optimistic about their pitch to Anthony. However, should former NBA point guard Kenny Anderson prove to have reliable sources, there may be reason for skepticism.
My sources say Melo not happy with offer bulls made it may be over Knicks fans can relaxs
— Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) July 2, 2014
Bulls have to get their cash up for Melo
— Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) July 2, 2014
It comes down to the bread Melo is a maxs player it’s not about nothing else this is his last chance getting that big deal! — Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) July 2, 2014
Apparently, according to Anderson’s sources, Anthony is mostly concerned about the money on the table.
Meanwhile, his tour continued in Texas Wednesday with a stop in Houston for lunch. The Houston Rockets contingent included center Dwight Howard, guard James Harden and Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler as well as Team owner Les Alexander, GM Daryl Morey and coach Kevin McHale.
They met for lunch and toured the Toyota Center, building their pitch around the championship potential that a Howard-Harden-Anthony “Big 3” would produce.
The Houston visit, however, was not without its own controversy, as the Rockets had, like the Bulls before them, plastered images of Carmelo wearing a No. 7 Houston jersey all around the arena. Current point guard (and Anthony’s former New York Knicks teammate) Jeremy Lin, of Linsanity fame, is the present owner of that particular jersey number.
Understandably, he took the gesture as a visible sign of disrespect.
Luke 6:29 – If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 2, 2014
@EmodMarco im entitled to standup for myself/say i felt disrespected as i did thru tweet but point is love unconditionally/as jesus loved me — Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 2, 2014
Yahoo! Sports reporter Adrian Wojnarowski suggests the tea leaves indicate Lin will be out should Anthony commit to Houston. USA Today reporter Sam Amick also agrees.
This photo link below proves Morey LIED about Beverley’s number on Dwight. Dwight’s banner didn’t have a number, it was covered by a ball. Proves one instance of the constant negative propaganda and twisted facts from the toxic Houston front office towards Jeremy Lin.
http://danielrehn.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/anewage_toyotacenter.jpg
Typical low-IQ Lin haters are funny. Lin put up 12 and 6 playing next to the biggest ball hog in the league. His 3-pt% goes up every year, TO-avg goes down every year, he is top5 in the league in FG% at the rim and in pick and roll. Has a true shooting% of over 57%. His defensive rating is the same as Beverley’s and all his Synergy defensive PPP stats are BETTER than Beverley’s. He put up an elite 97 defensive rating as a starter in NY. He led the d-league in defensive rating. He was Golden State’s defensive specialist as a rookie. Typical low-IQ Lin haters have zero clue what they are talking about. Just lazy morons parroting negative false propaganda with a slice of r.acism and prejudice.