2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions: Carmelo Anthony Stays In New York? Max Offer Too Big To Ignore! No Real Title Chances With Other Candidates?

After all the posturing, grandstanding and photoshopped jerseys, most people involved with 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions came to the conclusion that Carmelo Anthony will ultimately stay in New York.

It's not to say that this was all a farce. Carmelo himself would not take the time to tour those cities and visit the teams if he wasn't really serious about considering them. But in the end, there's just too much money and too vague a title picture.

Part of the blame goes to the San Antonio Spurs, whose "exquisite basketball" as Miami coach Erik Spoelstra described, set the bar too high. It was not about building a Big Three to trump the Heat's version anymore, it was about a whole team!

This is what shot down Houston's chances.

Basketball Insiders has the analysis with Alex Kennedy:

"I just don't know if a core of James Harden, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard wins a title. Harden and Anthony are two defensive liabilities, so Howard would definitely have to clean up a lot on that end of the floor. Also, all three of those guys want the ball in their hands and demand their touches. Can they make it work with one basketball?"

There is also the issue of the coach. Kevin McHale has fallen short many times, and the Rockets were clearly outcoached in the first round when they were knocked off by Portland.

Not to mention the fact that Houston cannot offer the max for Carmelo Anthony.

Another team that cannot offer the max is Chicago. The Bulls are probably Carmelo's best bet to win a championship, barring the "Big Four" talk in Miami. It clearly makes sense, but Chicago can probably offer about $16 million even if they amnesty Carlos Boozer.

The Lakers can offer the max of $ 97 million for 4 years and they will, but they are totally devoid of a roster. If Carmelo would be willing to wait for a team to develop, he might as well stay with the Knicks, who can offer $ 130 million for 5 years, which they will, as Phil Jackson is no longer asking him to take a pay cut. Besides, it's just another season, and the Knicks have all the cap space at the end of the 2014-15 season.

If he really wants to win NOW, he'll take whatever the Bulls are offering. But if he only takes 15-16 million for 4 years, compared to the 5 year contract the Knicks are offering, he would lost almost $ 60 million! That may be too much.