Damian Lillard on the Portland Trail Blazers reportedly signing Carmelo Anthony: 'He can do things to help our team'

Scott Rafferty

Damian Lillard on the Portland Trail Blazers reportedly signing Carmelo Anthony: 'He can do things to help our team' image

Damian Lillard is "all for" the Portland Trail Blazers signing Carmelo Anthony.

"We're in a position where we got a lot of guys hurt," Lillard told reporters on Friday. "I think he can do something to help us with his size, his ability to space the floor, his ability to shoot, another option to throw somebody the ball that can score in isolation situations, good rebounder and just the experience. He's a good player, regardless of what the last few years in Houston and OKC looked like.

"I didn't think either one was a great fit and I think he can do things to help our team. We're not in a position to complain about it. He's a Hall of Fame player and he can still play. Hopefully it brings some excitement and helps us get going in the right direction."

Anthony spent the 2017-18 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he averaged 16.2 points on 40.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent from 3-point range. He then appeared in 10 games with the Houston Rockets in the 2018-19 season, posting 13.4 points per game on 40.5 percent shooting from the field and 32.8 percent from the 3-point line.

The Rockets announced they were parting ways with Anthony shortly after he made his return to Oklahoma City, a game in which he struggled with two points on 1-for-11 shooting from the field. The Rockets eventually traded Anthony to the Chicago Bulls. He was then waived by the Bulls, making him an unrestricted free agent.

It's been over a year since Anthony last played in the NBA. Lillard said that the 10-time All-Star seems to be excited for the opportunity the Blazers are giving him.

"Obviously with the situation he's been in, being out of the league and not going out the way he wanted to go out and the fact that he can still play, you know, I think he was just excited for whatever opportunity presented itself and just the fact that he can really do something for our team.

MORE: Is Anthony the answer the Blazers are looking for?

"It's not just like he's going to be thrown on the team to be on the team. He's coming here to help our team. And it's not like he's on a bad team. He's on a good team. We see ourselves as that and it's a good situation for both sides."

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Anthony isn't expected to make his debut with the Blazers until Wednesday at the earliest, when Portland takes on the New Orleans Pelicans.

"I'm expecting him to come in ready and I'm also excited to be a part of the process of him showing people he should be in the league still and he's still a good player in the NBA," Lillard said.

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Scott Rafferty

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Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.