There’s been numerous reports that Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James want to play together and teams like the Lakers and Suns had the possibility of pulling it off but the chances for the New York Knicks went out the window once both players opted out of their contracts.

via New York Post:

According to a friend of Anthony’s, Melo has held out faint hope Knicks president Phil Jackson can pull a miracle and clear out the necessary salary-cap space to get it done, but he is running out of time. Anthony’s decision could come in the next couple of days. …

“He really wants LeBron to come to New York,’’ the source said. “That’s his dream right now. Phil is trying to get it done.’’ …

“He didn’t want no part of New York in 2010,’’ the source said. “But he loves Phil and the chance to play with Melo.’’

Had Anthony and James opted in and waited till 2015 then the Knicks would have Amare Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani’s contracts off the books; in order for the Knicks to get them now they would have to trade Stoudemire and Bargnani and take no salaries in return, aka impossible.  Although Stoudemire and Bargnani’s contracts are expiring, there’s no teams willing to take them at the moment.

In the meantime, LeBron’s chances of returning to the Cavaliers are heating up but he is meeting with Heat president Pat Riley today.  James will probably be the first chip to fall before anybody else makes a move.

– Shaina Auxilly (@Shay_Marie)