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Carmelo Anthony, one of the big prizes in the 2017 NBA free agency sweepstakes, will almost certainly not be staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 34 year old is past the peak of his powers, but he was expected to put up more than 16.2 points per game he showed last season. In the final year of his contract, Anthony will make $27,928,140 in the upcoming season.
In spite of his high salary and relatively low production last year, Anthony is not without possible destinations. Houston in particular has been mentioned as having serious interest, with Chicago also getting some attention. The Thunder are expected to trade him to a team which will then stretch his contract, allowing Anthony to sign anywhere he wishes for a veteran’s minimum salary.
In the midst of the ‘Melo circus, Bill Simmons has thrown the Portland Trail Blazers into the mix, if only speculatively.
I actually think Melo is a good one year trade risk for a fringe contender like Portland because his game SHOULD age well. What happened to him last season doesn’t totally make sense. Might have just been wrong team/wrong fit in OKC. Not impossible.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 13, 2018
Chances are that Anthony will end up in Houston. Still, if you were Neil Olshey and the opportunity was there, would you take a chance on Anthony?