Appearing on the Posted Up podcast, Anthony told host Chris Haynes that there were three other teams he considered signing for before landing on the Lakers.

The 37-year-old star had re-signing with the Blazers as one of his top options, saying that he wanted to learn more about Portland’s intentions before talking with other suitors.

“I made that almost like a home for me. Within two years, I just felt like I was part of that community,” Melo said.

Melo also thought about returning to his hometown team, the New York Knicks, where he played for seven seasons. 

“New York was always there. Coming back to New York was always a story,” Anthony revealed.

Finally, the Philadelphia 76ers were also an intriguing landing spot for the 10-time All-Star, but the two sides never got past the exploratory talks.

“I didn’t really get a chance to, like, really converse with Philly, but it was interest there,” he added before briefly mentioning the New Orleans Pelicans being interested as well.

Despite all that interest from other teams, for which he said “felt good”, Anthony opted to team up with his friend LeBron James and sign with the Lakers. He now has a chance to win his first NBA title and finally round up his storied career in a proper way.

Check out the full interview below.

The post Carmelo Anthony Reveals Teams He Considered Before Joining Lakers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

However, if you ask his former head coach from Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Melo shouldn’t entertain other offers. According to Karl, Portland is the best fit for Anthony.

“He fit with the team. And why try to try to figure it out someplace else?”, Karl said during a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio. “When you’ve got a good place, a good team, that’s close to being really good? I would recommend him going back to Portland.”

Carmelo Anthony initially came to Portland as a depth piece but became an important player in the team’s road to playoffs. Melo finished the regular season by averaging 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Anthony’s resurgence in Portland and the expanded role resulted from the team’s injury issues. This means that the 36-year-old player can’t expect the same next season, as Zach Collins, Rodney Hood, and Trevor Ariza are all expected to be eyeing his minutes.

It remains to be seen whether Anthony would be willing to accept a reduced role in Portland because he fits there, or he ends up pursuing a roster spot on the team where he would also play less but had a chance to win a ring. 

The post Carmelo Anthony Should Return to Blazers Next Season Says His Former Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Anthony signed with Blazers early in the 2019/20 season after being almost a year out of the NBA. The 36-year-old proved to be a great pickup for Portland, as he contributed with 15.4 and 6.3 points in the regular season and helped the team to make the playoffs.

The playoffs didn’t end well for Blazers, as they were handed a gentleman’s sweep by Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, but that didn’t stop Melo from wanting to try again.

 “I pray that it could be Portland,” said Anthony when asked about his next destination. “Honestly, thank God I found a home in Portland. I got comfortable with the organization. I got comfortable with the guys on the team. They got comfortable with me. At this point in my career, I do think that that’s the best fit for me, the best situation.”

Reportedly, Blazers wouldn’t mind reuniting with Carmelo Anthony as well, especially if he accepts to play for the veteran’s minimum once again. Their offer might not come with the same role, as Anthony received more playing time in 2019/20 out of necessity, but at least he won’t have to move for the third time in two years.

Anthony just wrapped up his 17th season as a pro, having played with Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets besides Portland. He is a 10-time All-Star and has six All-NBA team selections.

The post Carmelo Anthony on His Future: “I Pray That it Could Be Portland” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to the NBA’s plan, 22 teams will go to Disney World in Orlando and take part in the 2019/20 season resume. The teams will play eight regular-season games and potential in-play tournament to determine the seedings.

Despite the Blazers being one of the 22 teams that were invited to Orlando, and being given the biggest chance to claim the eighth and final playoff spot, Anthony wants to know more before making the decision.

“As far as actually playing and going back down into Orlando, I’m still up in the air a little bit because I really don’t, we don’t have all the details,” said Anthony. “We don’t know a lot of information, so until we have that, it’s hard to just commit to that 100 percent.”

Carmelo Anthony signed with Blazers back in November, after being out of the NBA for almost a year. Melo emerged as a valuable player for the team and was at 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game before the regular season was suspended due to coronavirus pandemic.

Portland Trail Blazers are currently 3.5 games behind Memphis Grizzlies on No.8 in the West. Besides Portland and Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelican, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs will also try to get a postseason ticket in Orlando.

The post Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony Says He’s “Still Up in the Air” about Playing in Season Resume appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Anthony remained unsigned for the majority of the last season and the beginning of this one before Portland Trail Blazers signed him to a non-guaranteed contract two weeks ago. Many viewed this as an opportunity for Melo to do a Dwyane Wade-type “farewell tour,” before saying goodbye to the NBA. However, the 35-year-old Brooklyn-native has other plans.

“My love for the game don’t stop,” Melo told Charania. “I don’t know where this ‘farewell tour’ thing came from. I’ve never talked about a farewell tour. I know what I can do and I believe in myself. When a farewell tour comes, it comes. That’s not something I think about. I’m not thinking about retiring right now. I had (thought about it) during this past stretch over the summer. But ain’t no retiring in my mind. I believe in what I have left.”

Carmelo Anthony was notably rusty in his first few games with the Blazers, but he looks like he is getting his groove back. In Monday’s win against Chicago Bulls, Anthony was Portland’s best player, dropping 25 points and eight rebounds. It looks like Melo is making a comeback, rather than “farewell tour.”

The post Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony Insists He isn’t on a “Farewell Tour” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Former James’ teammate and 14-years NBA veteran Kendrick Perkins recently revealed on Twitter that James wanted Cleveland Cavaliers to trade for Anthony but that the team’s front office declines his request.

Perkins also hinted that James asked his current team Los Angeles Lakers to sign Anthony, who is a free agent at the moment but was once again rejected.

While we might never find out whether Perkins’ statement is true, the fact is that LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony won’t end up in the same jersey before their career end. As a matter of fact, Anthony’s NBA career might well be over, as the 2019/20 season is almost here and he still doesn’t have a team.

Antony played his last NBA game in Rockets’ jersey in November 2018, after which he was removed from the team. He was eventually traded to Chicago Bulls and released in January. He remained a free agent ever since.

The post Turns out LeBron James Wanted Cavs to Trade For Carmelo Anthony appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, who played with Anthony from 2008 to 2011, seems to have a theory about why Melo isn’t in the NBA right now. 

According to Billups, scoring lots of points always “meant too much” for Anthony, and that is why he was never prepared to take a backup role which would extend his NBA career.

“Scoring 30 meant too much, but I think now you fast forward the tape and the reason why he’s not in the league — because he’s still worthy — is he hasn’t mentally taken that step back to say, ‘OK, I’ll come in and play against back-ups. I’ll try to help the team out. I know I might not be able to close, but I just want to help.’ Well, he’s not there yet.” – said Billups during his recent appearance on SiriusXM’s NBA radio.

Given the fact that he is still only 35 years old, there are lots of teams that would take on Carmelo Anthony if he was willing to be a role player. One such team is Los Angeles Lakers, where he would end up playing with his old friend and USA Basketball teammate LeBron James. According to reports, Lakers are interested in taking Melo but are waiting to fill the rest of their roster to make the official approach.

Anthony played only 10 games last season, averaging 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game with the Houston Rockets.

The post Chauncey Billups Has a Theory on Why Carmelo Anthony Isn’t in the NBA at the Moment appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Houston’s general manager Daryl Morey confirmed on Thursday that the team would part ways with Anthony in the near future.

“After much internal discussion, the Rockets will be parting ways with Carmelo Anthony and we are working toward a resolution,” – said Morey in a statement. “Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and accepted every role head coach Mike D’Antoni gave him. The fit we envisioned when Carmelo chose to sign with the Rockets has not materialized, therefore we thought it was best to move on as any other outcome would have been unfair to him.”

With Carmelo Anthony in the lineup, Houston Rockets opened the season in the worst way possible, losing seven out of their first 11 games. While Melo wasn’t the only one to blame for this, Rockets felt that he didn’t fit with the team the way they wanted and started exploring other options on how the two sides could move forward.

During his brief time in Houston, Anthony averaged 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from the 3-point line.

“In the summer, we tried to hit a home run. It didn’t work out,” – said Rockets’ coach Mike D’Antoni. “He tried everything he could. He was great while he was here. It just didn’t work out for whatever reason. I just thank him for his professionalism.”

Carmelo Anthony won’t be released immediately, since Rockets may explore the option of trading his $2.4 million contract to gain some other assets. The team might also place him on waivers and wait for another team to claim him, or for him to clear waivers and become an unrestricted free agent.

The post Rockets and Carmelo Anthony Parting Ways after Just 10 Games appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hawks will waive Anthony, giving him a check for $27.9 million not to play for them, and allowing him to sign with another team. Reportedly, the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat are among the front-runners for his signature.

On the other side, Thunder’s general manager Sam Presti will unload Mike Muscala to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

So, what was the motivation for the teams to make this trade?

The biggest takeaway from this trade is that Oklahoma City Thunder just avoided paying $300 million payroll, which they would pay in case Anthony stayed with the team. Thunder saved $62 million in taxes and added a talented point guard in Dennis Schroder, who can provide playmaking while Russell Westbrook is on the bench. OKC could have saved more money if they used the waive-and-stretch provision on Anthony’s contract but opted to seek a trade that would improve their roster.

Atlanta Hawks got a first-round pick from this deal and also moved Schroder, who publicly expressed a desire to play for a contender. They will also have free salary cap space next season, available to absorb contracts for picks or make a big free-agent signing.

Finally, Melo also got something out of this deal. He leaves OKC after a disappointing season, but also get all of his money. On top of that, he has an opportunity to choose a team he wants to play for. This might be one of those rare trades where it’s a win-win situation for all parties involved.

The post Carmelo Anthony Traded to the Hawks, Expected to be Waived appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Appearing on the Posted Up podcast, Anthony told host Chris Haynes that there were three other teams he considered signing for before landing on the Lakers.

The 37-year-old star had re-signing with the Blazers as one of his top options, saying that he wanted to learn more about Portland’s intentions before talking with other suitors.

“I made that almost like a home for me. Within two years, I just felt like I was part of that community,” Melo said.

Melo also thought about returning to his hometown team, the New York Knicks, where he played for seven seasons. 

“New York was always there. Coming back to New York was always a story,” Anthony revealed.

Finally, the Philadelphia 76ers were also an intriguing landing spot for the 10-time All-Star, but the two sides never got past the exploratory talks.

“I didn’t really get a chance to, like, really converse with Philly, but it was interest there,” he added before briefly mentioning the New Orleans Pelicans being interested as well.

Despite all that interest from other teams, for which he said “felt good”, Anthony opted to team up with his friend LeBron James and sign with the Lakers. He now has a chance to win his first NBA title and finally round up his storied career in a proper way.

Check out the full interview below.

The post Carmelo Anthony Reveals Teams He Considered Before Joining Lakers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

However, if you ask his former head coach from Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Melo shouldn’t entertain other offers. According to Karl, Portland is the best fit for Anthony.

“He fit with the team. And why try to try to figure it out someplace else?”, Karl said during a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio. “When you’ve got a good place, a good team, that’s close to being really good? I would recommend him going back to Portland.”

Carmelo Anthony initially came to Portland as a depth piece but became an important player in the team’s road to playoffs. Melo finished the regular season by averaging 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Anthony’s resurgence in Portland and the expanded role resulted from the team’s injury issues. This means that the 36-year-old player can’t expect the same next season, as Zach Collins, Rodney Hood, and Trevor Ariza are all expected to be eyeing his minutes.

It remains to be seen whether Anthony would be willing to accept a reduced role in Portland because he fits there, or he ends up pursuing a roster spot on the team where he would also play less but had a chance to win a ring. 

The post Carmelo Anthony Should Return to Blazers Next Season Says His Former Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Anthony signed with Blazers early in the 2019/20 season after being almost a year out of the NBA. The 36-year-old proved to be a great pickup for Portland, as he contributed with 15.4 and 6.3 points in the regular season and helped the team to make the playoffs.

The playoffs didn’t end well for Blazers, as they were handed a gentleman’s sweep by Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, but that didn’t stop Melo from wanting to try again.

 “I pray that it could be Portland,” said Anthony when asked about his next destination. “Honestly, thank God I found a home in Portland. I got comfortable with the organization. I got comfortable with the guys on the team. They got comfortable with me. At this point in my career, I do think that that’s the best fit for me, the best situation.”

Reportedly, Blazers wouldn’t mind reuniting with Carmelo Anthony as well, especially if he accepts to play for the veteran’s minimum once again. Their offer might not come with the same role, as Anthony received more playing time in 2019/20 out of necessity, but at least he won’t have to move for the third time in two years.

Anthony just wrapped up his 17th season as a pro, having played with Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets besides Portland. He is a 10-time All-Star and has six All-NBA team selections.

The post Carmelo Anthony on His Future: “I Pray That it Could Be Portland” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to the NBA’s plan, 22 teams will go to Disney World in Orlando and take part in the 2019/20 season resume. The teams will play eight regular-season games and potential in-play tournament to determine the seedings.

Despite the Blazers being one of the 22 teams that were invited to Orlando, and being given the biggest chance to claim the eighth and final playoff spot, Anthony wants to know more before making the decision.

“As far as actually playing and going back down into Orlando, I’m still up in the air a little bit because I really don’t, we don’t have all the details,” said Anthony. “We don’t know a lot of information, so until we have that, it’s hard to just commit to that 100 percent.”

Carmelo Anthony signed with Blazers back in November, after being out of the NBA for almost a year. Melo emerged as a valuable player for the team and was at 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game before the regular season was suspended due to coronavirus pandemic.

Portland Trail Blazers are currently 3.5 games behind Memphis Grizzlies on No.8 in the West. Besides Portland and Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelican, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs will also try to get a postseason ticket in Orlando.

The post Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony Says He’s “Still Up in the Air” about Playing in Season Resume appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Anthony remained unsigned for the majority of the last season and the beginning of this one before Portland Trail Blazers signed him to a non-guaranteed contract two weeks ago. Many viewed this as an opportunity for Melo to do a Dwyane Wade-type “farewell tour,” before saying goodbye to the NBA. However, the 35-year-old Brooklyn-native has other plans.

“My love for the game don’t stop,” Melo told Charania. “I don’t know where this ‘farewell tour’ thing came from. I’ve never talked about a farewell tour. I know what I can do and I believe in myself. When a farewell tour comes, it comes. That’s not something I think about. I’m not thinking about retiring right now. I had (thought about it) during this past stretch over the summer. But ain’t no retiring in my mind. I believe in what I have left.”

Carmelo Anthony was notably rusty in his first few games with the Blazers, but he looks like he is getting his groove back. In Monday’s win against Chicago Bulls, Anthony was Portland’s best player, dropping 25 points and eight rebounds. It looks like Melo is making a comeback, rather than “farewell tour.”

The post Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony Insists He isn’t on a “Farewell Tour” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Former James’ teammate and 14-years NBA veteran Kendrick Perkins recently revealed on Twitter that James wanted Cleveland Cavaliers to trade for Anthony but that the team’s front office declines his request.

Perkins also hinted that James asked his current team Los Angeles Lakers to sign Anthony, who is a free agent at the moment but was once again rejected.

While we might never find out whether Perkins’ statement is true, the fact is that LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony won’t end up in the same jersey before their career end. As a matter of fact, Anthony’s NBA career might well be over, as the 2019/20 season is almost here and he still doesn’t have a team.

Antony played his last NBA game in Rockets’ jersey in November 2018, after which he was removed from the team. He was eventually traded to Chicago Bulls and released in January. He remained a free agent ever since.

The post Turns out LeBron James Wanted Cavs to Trade For Carmelo Anthony appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, who played with Anthony from 2008 to 2011, seems to have a theory about why Melo isn’t in the NBA right now. 

According to Billups, scoring lots of points always “meant too much” for Anthony, and that is why he was never prepared to take a backup role which would extend his NBA career.

“Scoring 30 meant too much, but I think now you fast forward the tape and the reason why he’s not in the league — because he’s still worthy — is he hasn’t mentally taken that step back to say, ‘OK, I’ll come in and play against back-ups. I’ll try to help the team out. I know I might not be able to close, but I just want to help.’ Well, he’s not there yet.” – said Billups during his recent appearance on SiriusXM’s NBA radio.

Given the fact that he is still only 35 years old, there are lots of teams that would take on Carmelo Anthony if he was willing to be a role player. One such team is Los Angeles Lakers, where he would end up playing with his old friend and USA Basketball teammate LeBron James. According to reports, Lakers are interested in taking Melo but are waiting to fill the rest of their roster to make the official approach.

Anthony played only 10 games last season, averaging 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game with the Houston Rockets.

The post Chauncey Billups Has a Theory on Why Carmelo Anthony Isn’t in the NBA at the Moment appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Houston’s general manager Daryl Morey confirmed on Thursday that the team would part ways with Anthony in the near future.

“After much internal discussion, the Rockets will be parting ways with Carmelo Anthony and we are working toward a resolution,” – said Morey in a statement. “Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and accepted every role head coach Mike D’Antoni gave him. The fit we envisioned when Carmelo chose to sign with the Rockets has not materialized, therefore we thought it was best to move on as any other outcome would have been unfair to him.”

With Carmelo Anthony in the lineup, Houston Rockets opened the season in the worst way possible, losing seven out of their first 11 games. While Melo wasn’t the only one to blame for this, Rockets felt that he didn’t fit with the team the way they wanted and started exploring other options on how the two sides could move forward.

During his brief time in Houston, Anthony averaged 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from the 3-point line.

“In the summer, we tried to hit a home run. It didn’t work out,” – said Rockets’ coach Mike D’Antoni. “He tried everything he could. He was great while he was here. It just didn’t work out for whatever reason. I just thank him for his professionalism.”

Carmelo Anthony won’t be released immediately, since Rockets may explore the option of trading his $2.4 million contract to gain some other assets. The team might also place him on waivers and wait for another team to claim him, or for him to clear waivers and become an unrestricted free agent.

The post Rockets and Carmelo Anthony Parting Ways after Just 10 Games appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hawks will waive Anthony, giving him a check for $27.9 million not to play for them, and allowing him to sign with another team. Reportedly, the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat are among the front-runners for his signature.

On the other side, Thunder’s general manager Sam Presti will unload Mike Muscala to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

So, what was the motivation for the teams to make this trade?

The biggest takeaway from this trade is that Oklahoma City Thunder just avoided paying $300 million payroll, which they would pay in case Anthony stayed with the team. Thunder saved $62 million in taxes and added a talented point guard in Dennis Schroder, who can provide playmaking while Russell Westbrook is on the bench. OKC could have saved more money if they used the waive-and-stretch provision on Anthony’s contract but opted to seek a trade that would improve their roster.

Atlanta Hawks got a first-round pick from this deal and also moved Schroder, who publicly expressed a desire to play for a contender. They will also have free salary cap space next season, available to absorb contracts for picks or make a big free-agent signing.

Finally, Melo also got something out of this deal. He leaves OKC after a disappointing season, but also get all of his money. On top of that, he has an opportunity to choose a team he wants to play for. This might be one of those rare trades where it’s a win-win situation for all parties involved.

The post Carmelo Anthony Traded to the Hawks, Expected to be Waived appeared first on yoursportspot.com.