Carmelo Anthony, a 10-time All-Star, is at the twilight of his career. And yes, he is still without a team after being waived by the Chicago Bulls. The former NBA scoring champ has been linked to a number of teams after being exiled by the Houston Rockets. And now that the NBA teams are gearing up for the home-stretch, Melo's name may again resurface.
Basketball pundits may have believed that other NBA teams would come running for Carmelo Anthony's services after became available last December 2018. The trade deadline has come and gone and Melo still hasn't got a team. Now that the buyout season has started, the only newsworthy event, at least one that concerns Anthony, is that he has been bought out of his contract.
Still, Melo, surprisingly or unsurprisingly (depending on your view), the 10-time NBA All-Star hasn't found a new home. Now that the All-Star Weekend is over and NBA teams start to get serious in trying to upgrade their roster for a deep playoff run, Anthony's name may yet again come into the conversation.
After all, Anthony is still a potent scorer despite the gradual dip in his statistics. That being said, here are 5 NBA teams that could use the services of Carmelo Anthony.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have long been rumored as a potential landing spot for Carmelo Anthony. Melo a close friend of Lakers superstar LeBron James and the Lakers do need additional scorers to take the load off LeBron.
The Anthony-to-the-Lakers is starting to sound better and better especially after the Lakers struck out in trying to acquire Enes Kanter and Markieff Morris. Adding insult to injury, the Lakers failed to get a deal done with the New Orleans Pelicans that would have sent Anthony Davis to the La La Land.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland has been a familiar fixture in the NBA postseason. The Blazers has made the NBA playoffs eight times in the past 10 years and just can't seemingly get over the hump. Now that they are in the middle of the heated Western Conference, an infusion of Carmelo Anthony may just be what the Trail Blazers need.
Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum actively recruited Anthony back when Melo was still in New York. Ultimately, Anthony was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and all the rumors about Melo going to Portland have subsided.
Lillard and McCollum are two gifted scorers but they do need a third scoring option to be able to contend with high-powered teams, such as the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and the OKC Thunder. With a terrific coach in Terry Stotts, a troika of Melo-Dame-CJ might just be enough to pull off some upsets in the West.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors already have a star-studded lineup. A team composed of stars isn't a guarantee that the team can take home the ultimate crown.
However, the Dubs have shown that with the right stars in the fold, it is not only possible; it is almost an absolute certainty. And adding Melo, whether he is a right star for the Warriors, would definitely make the Warriors the overwhelming favorite that they are. That is as if they aren't already.
Anthony could be a real asset for the Warriors. As stated above, Anthony's may be in the decline, but he is still one of the most feared scorers to have ever played the game. And oh, Anthony also has that knack of hitting clutch baskets. Something that the Warriors might need regardless of how many stars they have.
Also, the Warriors have a roster slot open and it looks like the Bulls aren't going to waive Robin Lopez any time soon. If the Warriors can resurrect JaVale McGee's career, who says that Golden State can jumpstart Anthony's.
Miami Heat
This season is Dwyane Wade's "Last Dance" so the Heat may want to go down fighting in the post season if only to honor their superstar. Miami is fighting for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
With the former All-Star and starting point guard Goran Dragic sidelined with an injury, the Heat has been consistently inconsistent this season. Adding a proven scorer in Anthony would solve some of the Heat's immediate problems.
It also doesn't hurt that Anthony has been one of Dwyane Wade's closest friends. It would be a dream season if both Wade and Anthony could finish the season together, end their careers together, and go down fighting together. It would be a story befitting their NBA status.
New York Knicks/Denver Nuggets
Why not? Carmelo Anthony made a name for himself while he was still with the Denver Nuggets but he spent the best years of his career in New York. It would be a fitting end to a storied career if Melo decides to hang it up. And doing so in a Knicks or a Nuggets jersey would be awesome.
