The Oklahoma City Thunder made history with the signing of guard Raymond Felton, as they became the only team in NBA history ever to have a payroll above $300 million.
This number is problematic as the luxury tax bill will be through the roof, providing the organization an incentive to part ways with small forward Carmelo Anthony.
It was recently announced that Anthony will move from the Thunder before the summer’s end after only one season with the team, giving the 10-time All-Star an opportunity to revitalize his career in a new city. The only question is: which city?
According to sources around the league, teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Miami Heat are currently looking to acquire Anthony. However, another organization has recently entered the mix: the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Eastern Conference has been severely weakened with the departure of LeBron James. The Sixers could be looking to add another All-Star caliber talent to their already talented young core to make a run at the Eastern Conference Championship and maybe even the NBA title.
It is also worth noting the Chris Paul, a longtime friend of Anthony, is pushing the Rockets organization to acquire him. This would bolster their roster and help them to compete with the star-studded Golden State Warriors.
Anthony was interested in the Rockets at the beginning of last season when he was a free-agent, and it appears that desire holds true today as his business manager was seen conversing with several members of Houston’s staff.
Carmelo Anthony’s business manager, Bay Frazier, spent much of the first half of the Rockets-Warriors summer league game here in Vegas tonight sitting with a HOU contingent of Mike D’Antoni, Chris Paul, Tillman Fertitta and John Lucas II
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 9, 2018
Anthony’s decision will ultimately come down to what his goals are as a player whose ability to play the game is diminishing by the year. In Anthony’s exit interview with the Thunder last season, he gave some insight into what those aspirations might be:
I think for me, my focus would be on kind of figuring out what I want out of the rest of my career, what I want in my future, what am I willing to accept, if I’m willing to accept that at all. I think everybody knows that I’ve sacrificed kind of damned near everything, family, moving here by myself, sacrificed my game for the sake of the team, and was willing to sacrifice anything and everything in order for this situation to work out. So it’s something I really have to think about, if I really want to be this type of player, finish out my career as this type of player, knowing that I have so much left in the tank and I bring so much to the game of basketball.”
At this stage in his playing career, the most crucial factor in Anthony’s decision will most likely be which team is most ready to compete for a championship.
In his fifteen years in the league, Carmelo Anthony has failed to win an NBA title, making him the butt-end of many jokes as he is one of the best players not to accomplish this feat. If he plays his cards right, that all could change in 2019.
With his point totals steadily declining and time running out by the minute, Anthony needs to do what’s best for him and go to the team that will put him in the best position to win.
Anthony has experienced a degree of success in the pros, to say the least, being named to 6 All-NBA teams and taking home the NBA scoring title in 2013. He has averaged 20+ points per game in each season of his career except with the Thunder.
Anthony isn’t the player he once was, and he will need to accept that and change the way he plays the game if he wants to maintain his legacy.
Featured Image Via Flickr/Keith Allison
