NBA Free Agent and Offseason News: Dallas Mavericks Trying to Sign Carmelo Anthony?
New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony has been the centerpiece of constant free agent rumors over the last few months. Anthony's current contract with the Knicks has him in his final year of his contract next season. However, if Anthony wants to, he can opt out and test the free agent market. If Anthony wants to stay with the Knicks next season, he would earn $23,742,225.
It's very unlikely Anthony will get any higher offers from another team, but next season Anthony will be 30 years old, and the Knicks are rebuilding. Time may be running out for Anthony to build up his all time legacy.
According to multiple reports, the Dallas Mavericks believe that Carmelo Anthony will be on his short list of teams for future face-to-face visits. If this were to happen going forward, this could be very interesting. Dirk Nowitzki isn't getting any younger and the Mavericks just lost in the first round of the playoffs. There's no doubt the Mavericks could use another scorer to aid Nowitzki and Vince Carter. The question now is, would Anthony want to play for the Mavericks?
The Mavericks have their pros and cons for Anthony. On the plus side, Anthony would get to play for one of the best coaches in the NBA, Rick Carlisle. Carlisle has already won a championship with this team and has won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2002. That's a lot more convincing than Steve Kerr with the Knicks, possibly. Anthony would also get to play with a better supporting cast around him than what he had in New York.
On the negative side, Anthony would have to take less money, and he wouldn't be in New York City anymore. Dallas is still a very big city that won the championship a few years ago, but Anthony may not be as turned on to Dallas as he is New York.
Center, Tyson Chandler has also been in basketball rumors with the Mavericks. Chandler played for the Mavericks in the 2010-11 season and helped the Mavericks win their only NBA title. He is obviously familiar with the team, the system and the location. Mark Cuban likes making a big splash in the offseason, and this would certainly qualify. Chandler stil has one year remaining on his contract, so if the Mavericks want him, they must make a trade.
The Western Conference is already extremely loaded with talented teams, so the Mavericks need to upgrade big time this offseason. A Dirk, Anthony and Chandler combination could be lethal. Maybe not the "big 3" of the Miami Heat, but it would certainly have to be taken seriously. With so many players these days taking the easy way out to win a ring and joining together, this may be the best thing for Anthony and Chandler.
It's still unknown whether or not the Mavericks will re-sign Vince Carter, who is a free agent this upcoming offseason.
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