This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. According to multiple reports, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony has decided to decline his $23.3 million option for the 2014-2015 and will become a free agent next month.
BREAKING: Carmelo Anthony will opt out of final season on current Knicks contract. (via ESPN and media reports) pic.twitter.com/7RjlzpUvEL
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 22, 2014
Anthony, who averaged 27.4 points per game last season, has been linked to multiple teams. The latest reports indicate that the Chicago Bulls are expected to make a major play for him. Others teams that have been linked to Anthony since the NBA Finals concluded include the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, among many others.
For what it’s worth, New York plans to make a run at Anthony as well. Team president Phil Jackson had previously recommended Anthony opt in to his contract for next season, but now will likely have to attempt to work out a long-term deal should the All-Star choose to stay with the Knicks, which is an unlikely scenario at this point.
Photo: Fansided.com