As the basketball world awaits Carmelo Anthony's decision on the eighth day of NBA free agency, the All-Star admits he doesn't quite know himself where he'll end up.
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According to ESPN, a source close to Anthony's thinking has said that "everything is up in the air," and he is still weighing all of his options after opting out of his contract with the New York Knicks.
"Nothing's been ruled out yet," the source said, according to ESPN.
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The Knicks are hoping to retain Anthony's services while the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are also anxiously waiting to see if they were able to lure him away from the Big Apple with less money.
All five of the teams have met with Anthony over the past week, and the Knicks were able to verbally offer him the most money and years with a potential five-year $129 million pact, but the Lakers and Bulls reportedly have a good chance of courting him and Kobe Bryant made a good impression on Anthony during his visit to The City of Angels.
Many outlets have reported that the Lakers sold Anthony on the franchise being built to win around him and Bryant and that Anthony, who has a home in L.A., will have the reigns to a franchise rich in history once Bryant opts to retire.
Anthony was also reportedly impressed with the presentation put together in Chicago, but the Bulls would likely need to issue a sign-and-trade to land the seven-time All-Star and that would require the Knicks' cooperation.
ESPN reports that those close to Anthony believe that the longer this process drags out, the less likely he will return to New York.
"He already knows what they have to offer," one of Anthony's friends said Monday night per ESPN.
Anthony has said that he wants to win, but it also may be hard for him to turn down max-money to remain in New York.
Knicks president Phil Jackson is determined to sell Anthony on the notion that the Knicks will be a contender in his first full year as team president, but the team is coming off of a disastrous 37-45 season when it failed to make the playoffs.
It is possible that Anthony is waiting to see where fellow free agents Chris Bosh and LeBron James end up before he makes a decision.
It has been an interesting free-agency period for the NBA, but it will be more interesting to see where these free agents -- including Anthony -- finally end up.
Right now, at least for Anthony, everything is in the air.
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