New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony was among those who had trouble processing Dwyane Wade's free-agent departure from the Miami Heat to the Chicago Bulls this offseason.
Wade and Anthony are close friends, comprising half of a tightly knit NBA superstar quartet that also features LeBron James and Chris Paul. The four made a powerful statement in speaking out on gun violence to start the ESPYs earlier this month.
Strong as their ties are away from the court, Anthony and Wade are in position to revitalize a rivalry between their respective teams.
The Bulls moved on from former league MVP Derrick Rose by trading him to New York in one of the most notable transactions of late. Joakim Noah fled Chicago and signed with the Knicks in free agency, giving New York even more veteran experience.
But Chicago didn't fare too badly in upgrading its roster either. In addition to improbably landing Wade, the Bulls acquired center Robin Lopez from the Knicks in the Rose trade and signed one of the game's better pass-first point guards in Rajon Rondo.
"I think as players, as competitors, we embrace all of those challenges and rivalries, that's what makes the sport great again, so we embrace that," said Anthony of the Bulls-Knicks rivalry, per Friedell.
Rose recently said New York was labeled by some as a "super team" along with the Golden State Warriors, which seems rather far-fetched. However, there's no denying the Knicks have gotten markedly better on paper ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.
With Anthony still capable of scoring in bunches, Rose and Noah having chips on their shoulders and Wade having intriguing complementary pieces on the perimeter in Rondo and Jimmy Butler, the showdowns between New York and Chicago figure to be captivating.
The X-factor when the Knicks and Bulls play may well be second-year New York big man Kristaps Porzingis. He showed immense promise as a rookie, and if he can elevate his game this coming season, there will be less pressure on Anthony, Rose and Noah to carry so much weight.
Porzingis' potential rise to stardom would allow the Knicks to counter Chicago's up-tempo style of play more easily—and could ultimately result in a New York playoff berth for the first time since 2013.
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