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After just one unproductive and rocky season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Carmelo Anthony and the team have decided to part ways. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Royce Young:
ESPN Sources with @royceyoung: Oklahoma City, Carmelo Anthony will part ways this summer, likely saving team over $100M. Thunder working with 'Melo's reps on exits that include trade, stretch provision. Story: https://t.co/mJbxINv2Cd
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2018
While using the stretch provision would eliminate some of Anthony’s tax burden, Wojnarowski believes a trade could be GM Sam Presti’s initial intention:
The Thunder first plan to pursue trade possibilities with teams looking to acquire a massive expiring deal to free up salary-cap space for July 2019 free agency. Anthony still holds trade-veto power, but it’s likely that any proposed deal would be with a team wanting simply to waive Anthony and allow him into free agency.
According to The New York Times Marc Stein, another Western Conference team is interested in the aging forward:
The Houston Rockets are among the teams that will have interest in Carmelo Anthony once he secures his free agency, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 6, 2018
The Trail Blazers were linked to Anthony last summer before he was dealt to the Thunder in late September. With no wing help in sight for Portland, taking a chance on the seemingly washed-up superstar could be a move worth making.
Would you like to see Carmelo in a Trail Blazers jersey next year? If not, what team could use his services? Let us know in the comments.