The balance of power in the NBA’s Eastern Conference has shifted this summer, and another major move could be on the way.
A league source told ESPN.com that the Bulls are discussing internally the possibility of including center Joakim Noah in a trade to bring Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony to Chicago.
Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday that Anthony would prefer a move to either the Bulls or New York Knicks if he decides he wants to leave Denver.
The Nuggets offered Anthony a three-year, $65 million extension through 2014, to which the 26-year-old has not yet officially responded.
If the Bulls were to acquire Anthony, who finished third in the NBA with 28.2 points per game last year, they’d have a starting lineup comparable to those in Miami, Boston and Orlando. Anthony would team up with newly acquired All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer and sensational young point guard Derrick Rose to give Chicago its own version of the "Big Three." The Bulls also would have versatile forward Luol Deng, who averaged 17.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 2009-10.
Chicago already was thought to be a team on the cusp of greatness in the Eastern Conference, with Rose emerging as one of the top guards in the league. Adding Anthony would make the Bulls a legitimate title contender for the first time since Michael Jordan left town.
It also would make the road to the NBA Finals a gargantuan task for all of the recently formed Eastern Conference powers.
