Carmelo Anthony is one of the most notable big name players in the NBA who has yet to find a home for the 2022-23 NBA season.
Last year, with the Los Angeles Lakers, he averaged 13.3 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
One season earlier, with the Portland Trail Blazers, Anthony put up 13.4 points per game on 42.1 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three.
By any objective measure, he can still play at an NBA level (offensively, at least) in a role player capacity.
When Danilo Gallinari went down with a torn ACL this month during a FIBA World Cup qualifying match, the general assumption was that Anthony would inevitably find his way to the Boston Celtics.
This week, Brian Robb of MassLive doused the Anthony-to-Boston rumors with cold water.
“Multiple league sources tell MassLive that the Celtics are not expected to have interest in bringing in the veteran for a signing ahead of training camp,” he wrote.
“That’s not to say the team is done shaping the roster ahead of the preseason but Anthony isn’t a priority at this point at names that could be brought in. Boston likes a lot of their internal replacement options from what I’ve heard and want to give those names the first crack at minutes.”
While the Celtics’ disinterest in adding Anthony is news in its own right, what really stood out was Robb explaining the perception of the 38-year-old around the NBA.
“There’s a reason the Lakers (and everyone else) haven’t brought in at this point,” Robb continued.
“He’s 38 years old and his teams have been at the bottom of the league in defensive rating for the last three years with him playing big minutes.”
It’s hard to see where Anthony goes from here. Two teams have expressed interest in him over the past few months, and he seems especially intrigued by one squad.
But there has been very little movement.
Obviously Anthony comes with some baggage on the court and some uncomfortable issues off it – but he is still a deeply talented offensive player. You would think there would be some sort of demand for him.
Yikes. https://t.co/f21gi6eapc
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 10, 2022
That being said, if the Celtics, who have a clear need for someone with his strengths following the Gallinari injury, have no room for him – it’s hard to see who will.
Is this the end of Anthony’s time in the NBA
A definitive answer should emerge in the coming weeks and months.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
