Carmelo Anthony only needed a couple of months with the Trail Blazers to decide that he wants to finish his career in Portland, writes Kerry Eggers of The Portland Tribune.
The Blazers gave Anthony a chance to re-establish himself in the NBA after a year out of the league. He quickly proved he has plenty of game left, averaging 16.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 32 games since joining the team in November.
“I feel like this is the place for me to end my career,” Anthony said. “It could have happened earlier, but it didn’t. Now, where I’m at in my life and my career — this is where I want to retire.”
Anthony and the Blazers will have to decide this summer how long they want their arrangement to be. He is playing on a veteran’s minimum contract that expires at the end of the season. Portland will have some cap room to work with, and Anthony, who turns 36 in May, has to determine how much longer he can keep playing.
His addition has been one of the few bright spots for a team that is tied for 10th in the West with a 20-27 record after reaching the conference finals last season. The Blazers weren’t the first team to express interest in Anthony, but they were the first to offer the type of situation he was looking for. Anthony had a long phone conversation with coach Terry Stotts before agreeing to sign.
“We were both very open and honest,” Anthony said. “I was candid with him about how I was feeling. He was very transparent with what he wanted from me. The conversation was different than it had been (with other teams). I felt welcomed and wanted as opposed to me pitching myself to somebody. When you feel that, it’s hard to turn that down.”
Anthony sometimes thought his NBA career might be over during the long layoff and said he reached a point where he was “going to accept whatever was going to happen.” However, he never stopped training and kept himself mentally and physically ready in case the right opportunity came along. He credits that preparation for helping him to succeed in Portland.
Stotts has been thrilled by what Anthony has been able to provide for the Blazers, who were short-handed on the front line after Zach Collins hurt his shoulder in early November and joined Jusuf Nurkic on the injured list.
“When he came in (to join the team), you don’t know what to expect, whether he feels like he has something to prove,” Stotts said. “But he fit in right away. He has taken (scoring) opportunities that are there, he’s a great teammate, he passes when we need him to. He has done everything we’ve asked.”
Melo should play again next year tho. He’s been good this year.
He currently averaging 16/6.5/1.5.
He shooting it a 43/38/83 percentages
What’s surprising is his 3 point percentage is his third best ever.
Yes he isn’t much of a defender but that’s not his role on this team, his role is to be a third option/fourth when Nurkic returns probably and to help space the floor.
He’s also a great clutch performer. I’d definitely keep him around next year
If he wants to play next year. He has shown he can still contribute. I don’t buy for a second if a true contender wanted him he wouldn’t take the next flight.
Depends how much Carmelo asks for from Portland no?
I think he will do whatever it takes to stay with Portland. Doubtful he asks for a lot of money. He’s made plenty of $$$ in his life.
He won’t get more than the veteran minimum from anyone.
I reckon he’d be happy with like 4 mil
If your role is the 3rd or 4th option, you better be playing defense. Pretty simple.
Im suprised lakers didnt jump to sign him. He could have been the closer for lakers instead trading kuzma for a scoring pg. Melo can still ball and its showing.
Probably looking at something like 2/8 or 2/10M. 2nd yr not guaranteed.
This. About the same as javale on the warriors/lakers when he came back.
Melo is EXACTLY the same guy he was in OKC. The numbers are almost identical. Identical! He’s still not actually useful.
Yep. He’s only useful in the sense that the Blazers had literally nowhere else to turn at PF with the injuries.
Yep. He’s only useful in the sense that the Blazers had literally nowhere else to turn at PF with the injuries.
I thought he retired years ago? I thought his ego was the one still playing.