Carmelo Anthony and the Chicago Bulls: the NBA free agency “what if” of 2014
In 2014, Carmelo Anthony came close to joining the Chicago Bulls but ultimately chose New York. An NBA free agency story that still fuels one of the league’s biggest “what ifs”
Everyone understandably remembers the 2014 NBA free agency period for LeBron James’ return home, the move that launched his “championship mission” with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Yet that summer, another saga dominated the early months of Adam Silver’s tenure as Commissioner: Carmelo Anthony’s decision about the next chapter of his career.
After opting out in June, Melo entered free agency looking for the best opportunity to chase an NBA championship, having reached the Conference Finals only once in his first 11 seasons.
The offer from the Chicago Bulls, featuring Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler, appeared to be the most attractive option on the table. Alongside those two young stars, Anthony would have joined an established roster complemented by experienced veterans such as Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol.
We all know how it ended: after lengthy negotiations, the former Denver Nuggets star chose to remain in New York, re-signing with the Knicks on a five-year, $124 million maximum contract.
In the latest episode of his podcast 7PM in Brooklyn, Anthony revisited, twelve years later, the failed negotiations with the Bulls. According to Melo, an anonymous former member of the Illinois franchise played a significant role in shaping his decision.
A little birdie told me things were about to fall apart in Chicago. So I didn’t want to end up in that situation. I didn’t want to walk into that kind of chaos. There were just a lot of things that weren’t being handled well: contracts, people leaving, coaches leaving, rumors floating around. I didn’t want to deal with any of that
Carmelo Anthony
One highly credible candidate as the source of those warnings is Carlos Boozer, who was waived by Chicago that same summer despite coming off a solid and consistent season. The move reflected tensions within the organization’s front office.
Carmelo Anthony’s decision: one of the NBA’s great “what ifs”
The Knicks’ disappointing 2013-14 season was not just a closed chapter. Heavy contracts and roster decisions that failed to match on-court production limited the franchise’s flexibility, pushing the New York Knicks into a prolonged period of stagnation.
Melo’s decision to turn down the Bulls still raises an intriguing question today: would he have been the missing piece that elevated Chicago into a true contender? In a relatively weak Eastern Conference, the Bulls were the only team that genuinely challenged the eventual champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
It’s a question that remains unanswered, especially considering that Anthony ultimately finished his career without an NBA title.