Report: Joakim Noah Still Recruiting Carmelo Anthony to Chicago

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah reportedly has been selling soon-to-be free agent forward Carmelo Anthony on playing in the Windy City. Their conversations, initially dismissed by Noah as little more than gossip, continued well past NBA All-Star Weekend in NOLA according to the Chicago Sun-Times:

According to several sources, including a teammate, Noah’s All-Star Weekend “conversation’’ with New York Knicks standout Carmelo Anthony didn’t end in New Orleans.

“I was kidding Jo that they were boys now,’’ a source said in a phone interview Friday. “ ‘Well, get your boy to come to Chicago.’ ’’

When asked during the season about his heart-to-heart with Anthony, Noah was his usual coy self.

“What are you talking about? The gossip going on?’’ Noah said. “I feel a lot of gossip. I think we all know that we’re in a good place. We’ve got a healthy group, it’s a healthy environment, and we’re not going to let gossip get in the way of what we’re doing. We’ve gone through so much this year, so it’s not going to be a little gossip that gets out there.

“You want me to address that? I don’t feel like addressing it. I really have nothing to say.’’

Then after exit interviews Wednesday with members of the front office, Noah was asked if he expected changes this summer.

“I don’t know,’’ Noah said. “That’s not my job.’’

Sources said Noah has been in Anthony’s ear as often as possible, and he has told other Bulls to push hard for Anthony this summer.