Report: Carmelo Anthony to visit Bulls first in free agency

Free-agent-to-be Carmelo Anthony will make his first official visit to the Chicago Bulls on the opening day of free agency, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported

Free-agent-to-be Carmelo Anthony will make his first official visit to the Chicago Bulls on the opening day of free agency, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Sunday.

Anthony is expected to visit with at least the Bulls, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks on his upcoming free-agency tour. The Miami Heat have also reportedly looked into the possibility of their "Big Three" restructuring their contracts to fit Anthony, and the Phoenix Suns are reportedly looking to make a move for both Anthony and LeBron James. Anthony, who has an offseason home in Los Angeles, is also expected to meet with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Stein.

Anthony plans to meet with Chicago soon after free agency officially begins at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Stein reported. According to the report, he would then travel to meet with Houston on Wednesday morning and Dallas in the afternoon.

Anthony, a seven-time All-Star, will be one of the most highly sought-after free agents following his decision to opt out of the final year of his contract with the New York Knicks. In free agency, Anthony will be in position to sign a five-year contract with New York that could be worth approximately $129 million if he decides to return. With another team, the most he could sign for is $95.8 million over four years.

According to Stein, the Knicks are "increasingly optimistic" about their chances of re-signing Anthony. The Knicks are preparing to make a push for free-agent forward Pau Gasol to replace Tyson Chandler, who they traded to Dallas last week.