Found this article about Melo to Bulls rumor

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/if-jimmy-butler-is-recruiting-melo-here-are-some-trade-ideas-for-bulls-knicks/?linkId=34283318

If Jimmy Butler is recruiting Melo, here are some trade ideas for Bulls, Knicks
Butler has been 'checking in' with Melo
Matt Moore
mugshot by Matt Moore
@MattMooreCBS
Feb 08, 2017 • 3 min read

When Carmelo Anthony re-signed with the New York Knicks two years ago, a lot of people wondered why he didn't go with his second choice in free agency, the Chicago Bulls. Anthony had met extensively with the Bulls and was close to joining Chicago. But he wound up taking the money, suffering through 2 1/2 terrible seasons, and is now the source of constant trade rumors as he and Phil Jackson play out a game of chicken.
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Anthony's no-trade clause means the Knicks can't send him anywhere they could get real assets for him, and the cities he wants to go to are thin on assets to send back. (Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers aren't exactly a pretty penny for a multiple-time All-Star.) But there may have emerged a new suitor that could drastically alter the landscape of this MeloDrama 2.0. Those same Chicago Bulls. From the Chicago Sun Times:
Jimmy Butler talked to Carmelo Anthony three days ago.
It was a "catch-up'' call, according to Butler on Wednesday.
What it should have been was a recruiting call, letting Anthony know that he's still welcomed in a Bulls uniform if he goes ahead and waives that no-trade clause to escape New York. Don't, however, rule out Butler making that call soon.
"That is half the battle,'' Butler said, when discussing making a player from another team feel welcomed. "And I could still do that. I think everybody knows what Carmelo can bring to a team. The dude is a helluva player.
"But I think that we have some things that we've got to worry about here first in the next few weeks [leading into the trade deadline], before we go down that road.''
Source: Butler is all for helping his front office add Carmelo Anthony - Chicago Sun-Times.
So to kind of read between the lines here, Butler talked to Melo but didn't explicitly recruit him, but is totally willing to do so. And it's hard to imagine that Butler really just called Melo to "catch up" with him. That timing is just too suspicious, even with Butler and Anthony having gotten to know one another on Team USA.

Could Melo join Jimmy Butler in Chicago? USATSI
If the Knicks and Bulls could actually get something going ... this could be a boon for both teams. The Bulls need a floor spacer and a spark to their season. Dwyane Wade and Melo want to play together. Chicago is a big enough city for his wife, LaLa, to feel at home and to cater to his big-city preferences. Chicago is a playoff team, would be even better with Anthony, and Anthony fits a need for them. Meanwhile, the Knicks could get back veterans, picks and assets. This would work perfectly.
So of course it probably won't, on account of either the Bulls, Anthony or Phil Jackson screwing it up.
Here's an idea on a deal:

So it removes Rajon Rondo, and the Knicks get Taj Gibson -- a guy who actually helps you win and can play next to Kristaps Porzingis -- along with Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis. It guts the Bulls' young depth, but they retain Doug McDermott and Cristiano Felicio. The Bulls would send the Sixers the remaining rights to the Kings' first-round pick, ensuring that no matter where Sacramento falls, they get the Kings' pick this year. The Sixers can also either ride it out with Rondo, who is at least a starting-caliber point guard in the NBA, or waive him for nothing. They are just facilitating here.
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The Knicks ideally would want a pick here, but bear in mind where the market is. The Knicks are looking at Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers. This deal is a Godsend for them, if the Bulls would agree to it.
An alternative:

The Nuggets also send the Memphis Grizzlies' unprotected first-round pick to the Knicks. New York adds a hustle-junkie player in Kenneth Faried who MSG would love, and gets back the hyper-versatile Wilson Chandler, who's frustrated with his minutes in Denver. The Bulls pick up a rim protector to replace Robin Lopez, along with Melo, and the Nuggets get a defensive power forward to play next to Nikola Jokic and Lopez fits perfectly as the big man they need off the bench. You can even experiment with Lopez and Jokic together, which shouldn't be as much of a disaster as Nurkic and Jokic were together.
We'll see if anything comes of it, but it's very interesting that with two weeks to go before the NBA trade deadline, Butler has suddenly taken such an interest in Melo's well-being.

newyorker4ever wrote:Any deal i'm doing with the Bulls for Melo would have us getting D.Valentine in return along with a 1st round pick and wouldn't mind getting T.Gibson as well.

I agree Valentine has to be in the deal.

The value is the 2017 mid round pick and cap space

smackeddog wrote:Most writers are saying they think melo stays with Knicks. The only exception seems to be Hahn who, on his radio show, seems strangely confident that a deal could happen. He said there was no way at all of a Cavs deal (Owners don't want to take on more money because of their luxury tax bill), however seems to think theres a good chance of Clips deal. Also Berman said twice in his article today that Clips are Melo's preferred (i.e. only acceptable) destination.

So looks like its the trash Clips deal or nothing. Not very exciting at all. And if we get Rivers, it makes zero sense to get Rubio, so there goes that too.

I'm still holding out for a 3 team deal with the Clippers involved. In the end I just think it's best if Melo is moved even if the deal isn't great. It's almost becoming absurd how Melo wants to stay as if this team is close to contending. He is delusional if he can't see the writing on the wall.

Rose is not good for KP and needs to go IMO. Melo is only stunting the growth of the younger players and the ability of the team to rebuild. I'm still hoping Melo gets traded to LA and Rose to Minny, even tho it's not likely.

nixluva wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Most writers are saying they think melo stays with Knicks. The only exception seems to be Hahn who, on his radio show, seems strangely confident that a deal could happen. He said there was no way at all of a Cavs deal (Owners don't want to take on more money because of their luxury tax bill), however seems to think theres a good chance of Clips deal. Also Berman said twice in his article today that Clips are Melo's preferred (i.e. only acceptable) destination.

So looks like its the trash Clips deal or nothing. Not very exciting at all. And if we get Rivers, it makes zero sense to get Rubio, so there goes that too.

I'm still holding out for a 3 team deal with the Clippers involved. In the end I just think it's best if Melo is moved even if the deal isn't great. It's almost becoming absurd how Melo wants to stay as if this team is close to contending. He is delusional if he can't see the writing on the wall.

Rose is not good for KP and needs to go IMO. Melo is only stunting the growth of the younger players and the ability of the team to rebuild. I'm still hoping Melo gets traded to LA and Rose to Minny, even tho it's not likely.

I would agree, though Phil will get blasted for it- not getting a pick back is bad enough, but taking on Crawford salary and Wes's, AND not getting JJ Redick, is a bitter pill to swallow. The one piece is Rivers and I don't think he's better than Rubio.

However the main purpose would be to shift Melo, which needs to happen. I just think Rubio would be better for KP's development than Rivers.

Also, it is not like Melo is hurting our underlying plans to build around KP. We are still God-awful with him and are in position and on pace to grab a pick in the top 5 of this draft. If things shake-out favorably, maybe we get the 2nd pillar to build our franchise with and could make a couple playoff runs with him, Melo and KP.

But the optimal route is to still move Melo and jumpstart the rebuild/retooling process. Our ultimate success lies several years into the future and keeping Melo doesn't further the process to get to that point. If Phil isn't a couple idiot, I don't see how it'd be hard to move Melo and Courtney Lee to LAC for JJ Redick (who we'd move to a playoff contender for a 1st), Austin Rivers, their 2021 and 2023 first round picks; then find a third team to take Jamal Crawford. The assets won't mature until well in the future but there is no need to have them any sooner, since we should tank a season more or two to maximize our rebuild potential.

P.S., I'm still intrigued by Nikola Mirotic and think he'd be a great fit playing with KP or backing him up. If the Bulls out him on the market, I'd gladly swap Midngas Kuzminskas out for him.

NardDogNation wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Most writers are saying they think melo stays with Knicks. The only exception seems to be Hahn who, on his radio show, seems strangely confident that a deal could happen. He said there was no way at all of a Cavs deal (Owners don't want to take on more money because of their luxury tax bill), however seems to think theres a good chance of Clips deal. Also Berman said twice in his article today that Clips are Melo's preferred (i.e. only acceptable) destination.

So looks like its the trash Clips deal or nothing. Not very exciting at all. And if we get Rivers, it makes zero sense to get Rubio, so there goes that too.

Rivers is a combo guard and a 6th man. Why would it make zero sense to get he and Rubio? I actually think Rivers' ability to shoot and play a little off the ball would compliment Rubio well.

Yeah Rubio and Rivers wouldn't be a bad fit together at all.

Vmart wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:I go back and forth with Melo. As I said before, the optics of pushing a "good soldier" out isn't good from a PR perspective. Not many guys wanted to come to NY and accept the challenge but Melo did, which I respect him emmensely for. That alone should give him some say on how he should end his career with us.

Also, it is not like Melo is hurting our underlying plans to build around KP. We are still God-awful with him and are in position and on pace to grab a pick in the top 5 of this draft. If things shake-out favorably, maybe we get the 2nd pillar to build our franchise with and could make a couple playoff runs with him, Melo and KP.

But the optimal route is to still move Melo and jumpstart the rebuild/retooling process. Our ultimate success lies several years into the future and keeping Melo doesn't further the process to get to that point. If Phil isn't a couple idiot, I don't see how it'd be hard to move Melo and Courtney Lee to LAC for JJ Redick (who we'd move to a playoff contender for a 1st), Austin Rivers, their 2021 and 2023 first round picks; then find a third team to take Jamal Crawford. The assets won't mature until well in the future but there is no need to have them any sooner, since we should tank a season more or two to maximize our rebuild potential.

P.S., I'm still intrigued by Nikola Mirotic and think he'd be a great fit playing with KP or backing him up. If the Bulls out him on the market, I'd gladly swap Midngas Kuzminskas out for him.

"Good soldier" where is he? Melo is the worst soldier in the battalion. The man doesn't know the concept of team ball.

He has been the figurehead of the franchise and has behaved himself respectably in face of public scrutiny aimed at him as well as the franchise. Look at the difference between a DeMarcus Cousins and him. He easily could've been a DeMarcus Cousins.