November 8. It’s been almost a year since we saw future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony playing for an NBA team.
A lot has happened since then, but one thing that hasn’t changed is Melo’s job status: UNEMPLOYED.
Is he still good enough? I don’t believe that they’re 450 players better than Carmelo Anthony and neither does the rest of the league. Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and pretty much anyone with a pulse have echoed this statement.
Is he demanding a starting role? By his own admission, Melo told Stephen A. Smith: “I can’t make a 15-man roster? …1,000 percent I can accept a lesser role. I can do that.“, when he was asked about not being on a team. Unlike his first press conference as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder where he scuffed at the notion of coming off the bench, Anthony went on national television and “begged” for an opportunity. After being humbled like this, he’s in no position to make demands and he knows it.
Is his game not suited for today’s NBA? Some point at his poor spot-up shooting numbers, the fact that he’s been a defensive liability, or that the ball sticks in his hands. News flash: lots of players are incompetent defensively (Trae Young/Enes Kanter), poor floor spacers (Ricky Rubio, Ben Simmons) or ball-stoppers (Isaiah Thomas, James Harden). And just like those other players, Carmelo can still have a positive impact on a squad. His mid-range game is one of the best in NBA history, he can post-up, gets his fair share of rebounds, and he’s a solid shooter from downtown.
Is he difficult to coach? Mike D’Antoni would probably yell out YES to this question. Terry Stotts reportedly has his reservations about having him on his team because of the media’s coverage of a Hall of Famer sitting at the end of the bench on most nights. While that’s a fair concern to have, should it really matter if the guy is producing for your team? Dwayne Wade came off the bench for the Heat last year, Dwight Howard will likely start this season coming off the bench for the Lakers, and Vince Carter has been a role player for over half a decade now. It really shouldn’t be that hard.
Why wouldn’t teams want him? Some teams already have a full roster, an abundance of forwards in their rotation, or feel that Melo wouldn’t fit in with their system. Other teams are in the midst of a youth movement, why waste minutes on a former superstar when they can invest these minutes on potential stars down the line?
Keeping this in mind, teams like the Hawks and Grizzlies who are going through rebuilds and have vets like Vince Carter and Jae Crowder, won’t have much use for Melo. The Celtics, Cavs, Mavs, Pacers, Clips, Bucks, Pels, Magic, Raptors and Jazz wouldn’t be able to offer much playing time to the aging superstar considering the amount of forwards on their respective rotations. Former squads, Rockets and Thunder, aren’t a viable option for obvious reasons; and the Knicks and Nuggets, teams were he played his best basketball, don’t really have a use for him at this juncture.
Where could he go? He told Stephen A. in that same interview: “My ultimate goal is to play and to win a championship. That’s all that’s left for me, to win a championship. But I also want to play.”.
Translation: “If i’m on a contender, I’ll be happy and willing to take on a lesser role. If i’m not on a contender, I need to play.“.
The Spurs are interesting considering Pop’s ability to squeeze the last drop out of aging stars, but with so many forwards in the squad (Gay, DeRozan, Aldridge, Carroll, Lyles, etc.) playing time would be hard to come by.
LeBron James has received criticism for not forcing the Lakers to give him a shot, but with only one roster spot left; the Lakers would be fools to add another forward instead of saving that spot for the buyout market.
Teams with no clear direction like the Suns, Wizards, Bulls, Pistons, Wolves, Hornets and Heat could pounce on the opportunity to add a future Hall of Famer to their squad. Give him 15-25 minutes a night, sell some jerseys, and put butts on the seats to watch the great Carmelo Anthony play one last time. A championship wouldn’t be viable in this scenario, but playing time would be if he plays his role. He could be the veteran presence in a young locker room or maybe plays a key role for a playoff push.
As for the Nets, they should’ve signed him after Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant vouched for him. However, it’s been reported that they’re going with Lance Thomas and CJ Williams instead (this is why people say he’s been blackballed… Melo > Thomas or Williams).
The Blazers could also use him off the bench, but reports say Stotts doesn’t feel comfortable with him on the bench (boo-hoo).
As for title contenders, the Warriors and 76ers should give him a chance based on obvious need. The Warriors are going through a transition period and Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Shaun Livingston are no longer in the Bay. Klay Thompson will be out at least til March and D’Angelo Russel will go through an adjustment period early on. The fit may not be great, but it could add a different dimension and an off-the-bench offensive punch to a squad that is compromised at the moment.
Even though Philadelphia has one of the best starting units in the league, it’s bench leaves a lot to be desired with mostly unproven players or guys trying to kick-start their once promising careers . Why not use a roster spot on a guy that can get you 10-20 points every single night coming off the bench?
Let’s be real, most of the teams have no use for Carmelo Anthony at this stage of his career, regardless of how good he’s been or still is. Add to that his resume and the fact that he’s talked about every single day, and signing him may become an unnecessary distraction.
At the same time, there are those that would benefit by adding the future Hall of Famer to their squad. We’re closing in on the season and Melo’s still a free agent. While some teams can’t afford to add him to the mix, others would be foolish not to.
Give this man the exit he deserves, dammit!
NBA PORKCHOP 