Carmelo Anthony informed the New York Knicks today that he is opting out of the final season of his contract that would pay him more than $23 million next season. Anthony will test the NBA’s free agency market with the Chicago Bulls emerging as a serious contender, giving Anthony the chance to play with this year’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah and the NBA’s 2010 MVP, Derrick Rose.

One person not surprised by Anthony’s opt-out decision is former Knick John Starks who was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Carma Foundation last night in Manhattan. “Well that’s expected,” Starks told The Source before being honored.

Although he does not have a crystal ball to see Anthony and the Knicks’ future, Starks, the Knicks’ all-time leader in three pointers sees the reality: “It’s a business like anything else at the end of the day.”

Aside from the Chicago Bulls courting Anthony, the perennial All-Star will reportedly receive interest from the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks in free agency. The Knicks, of course can offer Anthony the most money at roughly$135 million. New York finished this season at 37-45 and finished ninth in the NBA’s Eastern Conference standings.