NOVEMBER 22, 8:32pm: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
NOVEMBER 21, 4:15pm: Carmelo Anthony is returning to Portland, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that the veteran forward is finalizing a new deal with the Trail Blazers. It’ll be for one year, Charania adds (via Twitter). It’ll be another minimum-salary contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
The Knicks were among the teams believed to have interest in signing Anthony in free agency this fall. However, as Charania explains (via Twitter), Anthony wanted to show loyalty to the Blazers after they gave him an opportunity to return to the NBA last season, and he knows what sort of role to expect in Portland.
Anthony, who signed with the Blazers almost exactly a year ago, averaged 15.4 PPG and 6.3 RPG on .430/.385/.845 in 58 games (all starts) for the club in 2019/20.
It has been an active offseason so far for the Blazers, who agreed to re-sign Rodney Hood, struck a deal with free agent wing Derrick Jones, and reached trade agreements to acquire Robert Covington and Enes Kanter.
Although the Blazers barely squeaked into the Western Conference playoff picture this year, injuries played a major part in the club’s season-long struggles, and Portland looked like a different team during the restart when Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins returned. The Blazers will be looking to re-establish themselves as one of the West’s top teams in 2020/21.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dam thought he would come back and light the garden up
Melo is a savvy vet that still has gas in the tank. Going to a group of guys and a fan base that appreciate his contributions! Hence he signed for a vet min. Could have got more else where. Made several clutch game winners last
Year, will have more to come…
I guess he’s not ring chasing yet to play for Lakers. Possibly LBJ doesn’t want him
Melo ain’t a Klutch guy
Classy move by Melo.
Ditto …
Sacrifice a chance at winning a ring for loyalty. I don’t blame him. He still has 1-2 years after this year to go join the lakers.
So he will join the Lakers when he’s 37 or 38? To do what exactly?
Ride the bench
Bench players get rings too…hence the point
Lakers win a championship in the bubble and all of a sudden they’re the only team that can get you a ring? Lol gotta settle yourself down there
In this case they where the only team that could possibly win it all and actually give melo a role on a title contending team ! Neither side might not have wanted it though
He could have gone home to the Nets if it was about easy access to winning. Portland is a situation he seems to love and they’re going to be competitive. Good deal for him. The Lakers aren’t the only team capable this season. NBA is wide open
Exactly, they may still be the team to beat, but nobody is betting on a dynasty in LA, unless they’re bad at betting
That window is closing fast, most likely by season’s end.
What’s being failed to realize is that this LA squad winning is temporary. LeBron doesn’t have many years left, AD will probably structure a contract to match that, and the rest of the squad is veteran filler. This isn’t some dynasty that is dominating the decade unless they land Kawhi or Giannis next summer somehow.
Classy and loyal aren’t what I think when I think Melo. He has been a Prima Donna me first from the get go. Where these guys come up with loyal and classy must of not followed his whining, look at me career.
Portland look like a top contender this year.
Hardly
based on what? Signing Melo? That doesn’t move the needle for any team. Covington was an excellent pick up, and I like the Jones signing too. But adding Melo just complicates things and takes playing time away from better, younger players. Portland will be the same old-ish, plus or minus a few extra wins during the regular season with Nurkic being healthy and RoCo coming in
Portland have the best offensive backcourt in the NBA now Millard and Cj plus a one of the top center in Jorkirf and now a deep beach, melo playing well last year and been a positive team.player the reason the Lakers won last year is because was a 60 games season with a 4 months break, this year will be different a 72 games season without a restar let seewhat happens.
Don’t like this signing by Portland. Melo is finished, has been for a while. I know his name still carries some weight amongst the casual fan, but he hasn’t been a good player in a long, long time now. Even at the vet minimum, I would rather see that roster spot go to someone younger and better, without the extra curriculars that Melo also brings to the table (having to play him minutes, etc)
If he accepts to be the sixth man it will be a good signing .
Couldn’t disagree more. I wouldn’t want Melo anywhere near my rotation, let alone the 6th man. Hes just simply not good, and hasn’t been good for a long time now. Would rather see that roster spot go elsewhere
More like the 9th or 10th man maybe.
GTJ needs to be sixth man. That dude is an energy boost
Not a hater but was never a Mello guy. I’m just glad we are not signing him. Insane how they just keep his name alive here in NY. He actually played well for Blazers even played D. It’s a good signing for them. He’s bench scoring.
As a Knick fan, I’d like to thank the Blazers for taking him off the table. I feared that Rose might not be able to turn down a request from his former client.
Interesting.. now who wears 00 Kanter or hin
I remember all of the ludicrous speculation about Melo and Howard both getting more than the veteran minimum once they hit the free agent market.
Both Melo and CP3 will join the Lakers in about 3 years to chase a Ring. Hopefully they have more success than the Mailman
Blazers to fight to make the conference finals…
Lillard, CJ, Covington, Melo, Collins
Derrick Jones jr, Trent, Nurkic, Hood, Little, Simons
Portland should be much improved, barring health
Absolutely!
Not sure how much playing time Anthony will get as part of that group.
18-25 minutes per game?