Carmelo Anthony notifying Knicks he’s opting out

All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony will file notice with the New York Knicks on Monday that he plans to exercise the early termination option on his contract and become a free agent on July 1.

New York can offer Anthony, 30, the most money and security -- a five-year, $125 million-plus contract -- but he's intrigued with the chance to join an immediate contender in Chicago and Houston, league sources said.