NBA free agency: Carmelo Anthony returning to Blazers after resurgent season
Carmelo Anthony revived his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, and now it looks like he’s running it back for next season.
Anthony is finalizing a deal to re-sign with the Blazers, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Free agent Carmelo Anthony is finalizing a deal to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2020
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the deal is for the veteran’s minimum.
The deal with Anthony will be another move in an active offseason for the Blazers, having brought back Enes Kanter and Rodney Hood and signing Derrick Jones Jr.
Carmelo Anthony found new life in Portland
Anthony’s career appeared to be nearing its end last year following a disastrous tenure with the Houston Rockets, in which the team stopped playing him after 10 sub-par games. Rather than waive Anthony, the Rockets kept him on their roster until a trade to the Chicago Bulls, who waived him without playing him in a game.
At that point, Anthony was 34 years old and years removed from his days as an All-Star. An entire offseason went by without Anthony finding a new home. Then, a month into the season, a Blazers team ravaged by injuries brought him in on a non-guaranteed deal.
Playing alongside the likes of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, Anthony averaged 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while giving Blazers a much-needed boost at the wing. The Blazers’ season ended with a lopsided series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, but Anthony had clearly found a role.
Now, it looks like Anthony will be filling that role again this upcoming season.
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