Carmelo Anthony is gearing up for his 20th NBA season, but he may be doing so without a team. Anthony signed a one year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason. But, has yet to sign with any team, which has led to many to wonder will Carmelo Anthony return to the Lakers next season?
The 38 year old NBA veteran is currently a free agent. He will be allowed to sign with any team that offers him a deal.
Lakers Return
While the likelihood of Anthony resigning with the Lakers is slim, it is not completely out of the picture. The Lakers have two roster spots remaining. And, if rumors are true that they are looking to get rid of Russell Westbrook, they would have enough salary space to resign Anthony.
Last season, Anthony was one of the more consistent players on the Lakers roster. He played in 69 games, averaged 26 minutes and 13.3 points per game. 13.3 points per game is a significant decrease from the Carmelo Anthony of the past. In the later half of his career, he has had to find a new position, as role player. Playing with LeBron James has caused him to play far less minutes.
Anthony and James came into the NBA together in the 2003 draft. Since then the duo have created quite the bond, from playing in 10 all-star games together to playing for team USA in three olympic games.
Potential Options
If, Anthony and the Lakers do not reach an agreement, he could sign with the Boston Celtics The Celtics are in need of a scorer who can come off the bench to replace forward Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari suffered a torn ACL while playing for the Italian national team last week.
Anthony’s veteran presence and leadership could be a great match for this young Celtics team. The young team is led by Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, but they could use the guidance of an older veteran to help lead them back to the finals.
Career Highlights
With a career as long as his, it could be assumed that he only has a few seasons left in him. As his playing minutes decrease, and his career comes to a close, it is easy to forget how amazing his career has been. He has 7 All-NBA selections, 10 all-star appearances, 4 olympic medalist, ninth on the list of NBA leading scorers and is a member of the NBA 75th anniversary team.
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Featured Image Credit Robert Gauthier/ Getty Images
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