NBA

Carmelo Anthony could return to the NBA from Portland

Carmelo Anthony could return to the NBA from Portland

Carmelo Anthony may have another opportunity in the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers and Anthony could be coming to an agreement for the forward to join the squad, according to various media. The Portland franchise has the infirmary full of players and they need reinforcements. So Anthony could be an option.

Carmelo Anthony is not just any player. It is a 10-time All-Star, six times All-NBA and with a total average of 24 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in his career. But the 35-year-old forward has been looking for a team since leaving the Houston Rockets a year ago.

The first to throw the bomb was ESPN journalist Adrian Wojnarowski, who wrote that Anthony will join the Blazers on his next road trip where the team will have to face six games, the first on Saturday against San Antonio.

After almost 16 years in the NBA, Melo has gone through five franchises. He first went through Denver Nuggets (2003-2011) where he was a great star and then went to his native New York to join the New York Knicks (2011-2017). From there he tiptoed through Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2017-2018 season, where he had an average of 16 points, but his defense was not the highlight and that was a problem for the team, since they fell in the first round of the Playoffs against Utah Jazz.

Anthony’s career has gone downhill and that was certified last season in his time at the Houston Rockets. He only played 10 games, eight of which came from the bench and averaged 13.2 points with 40% in shots and 32% in triples.

Now in the Melo race the name of the Blazers could be added. Anthony wants to play and Terry Stotts, current Portland coach, needs cash to cover the casualties. The team already has four players in the infirmary and its balance in the NBA is not being one of the best: 4-8.

Zach Collins has recently undergone shoulder surgery and is expected to be on leave for at least four months. Rodney Hood has had several discomforts in his back, Jusuf Nurkic remains out after breaking his leg last month and is not expected to return until after the start of the new year. The fourth is Pau Gasol, who signed for the Blazers knowing that he was not yet fully recovered from his foot operation. So the Blazers need reinforcements and maybe Anthony is the one.

According to rumors, the Blazers were interested in Anthony in the summer of 2017. Now several NBA players have joined in wishing to return to the league.

For now they are only rumors, since neither the player himself nor the Portland Trail Blazers have not done anything official.

Vincent Poirier, in the casting of Barcelona Lassa

At the same time, the offices of the Palau are working on possible new additions. There is Cory Higgins (CSKA) as a future for the perimeter. Another of the poles of attention is that of painting. With Tomic and Pustovyi with a contract in force remains to be seen what happens with Kevín Séraphin that seems complicated to follow. The condition of his right knee – which forced him to undergo surgery last season – and the recent controversy with Pesic, who expelled him from the bench against Andorra, do not add up, precisely, so that he has the option of renewing his high contract.

So things, in Barça are doing market casting. We talked a few days ago of the interest in the Serbian center of Olympiacos Nikola Milutinov that could leave the Athenian club due to the economic problems that surround the entity of Piraeus. But it is not the only name on the list.

Because we must also talk about the French pivot of the Baskonia Vincent Poirier (2.13 and 25 years) one of the pillars of Velimir Perasovic’s team (9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in the league). Club that arrived in 2017 Paris -Levallois of his native France after signing a contract for three seasons.

It is a proper name that he likes in the Palau -according to the account of @Diego Alvárez- for his profile as an athletic player despite his height. But, as in the case of Milutinov, there are important conditioning factors in order to face the operation of his signing.

On the one hand the fact that both have a contract in force, although the specific situation of each club is different. The second ‘but’ is that other European greats are also interested in a player profile that is increasingly difficult to find in current basketball.

The NBA, on the horizon
And the third possible stumbling block for Barça’s expectations is the same as always: the NBA. In the case of Milutinov – elected by San Antonio Spurs in the 2015 draft (number 26) – the Tejano franchise seems determined to pull economic muscle to add centimeters in the area ..
A case similar to what happens with Poirier -not drafteado- who, in his case, have been closely following the Boston Celtics for months.

And you know that when a league franchise ‘pross’ crosses the road with its good millions is difficult for a player to say no.
Both with Poirier and with Milutinov, it will be – anyway – the player who will decide his future. Barça is there and the French center knows it.

Contact Us


    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Recent News & Reviews