After fizzling out with the Houston Rockets more than a year ago, Carmelo Anthony is returning to the NBA.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Anthony has agreed to a non-guaranteed deal with the Portland Trail Blazers and will accompany the team on their upcoming road trip, which begins on Saturday in San Antonio.
Anthony, 35, played in 10 games for the Rockets last season and averaged 13.4 points with 5.4 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 0.5 assists, 0.4 steals and 2.1 three-pointers per game in just over 29 minutes.
Though those numbers aren’t awful by any stretch, the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft shot just 40.5 percent from the field and was a liability on defense prior to leaving the team.
The Blazers, who are searching for answers after starting the season at 4-8 in a tough Western Conference, are hoping Anthony can fill the void at forward that was left when Moe Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu left in free agency.
If he’s got anything left in the tank, Anthony will provide a boost for the Blazers at the forward position where they rank 27th in points per game (36.3), are tied for 28th in assists per game (5.5) and sit dead last in field goal percentage (39%).
The team has had a longstanding interest in Anthony and even made an attempt to acquire him when he was with the New York Knicks, according to Wojnarowski.
A 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA player, Anthony has also played for the Thunder and Nuggets.
Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
