Carmelo Anthony is hopeful for a return to the NBA scene — he just won't be jab stepping and shooting jumpers in Chicago.
The Rockets agreed to send the exiled forward to the Bulls on Monday, throwing in cash as a sweetener to complete the deal. Anthony isn't expected to play for the Bulls, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, as Chicago will search for a workable trade ahead of the Feb. 7 deadline.
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It's been a rough stretch for Anthony, who was traded from the Thunder to the Hawks in July, waived by the Hawks, signed by the Rockets and then removed from Houston's rotation after only 10 games. He reportedly has multiple offers from suitors, but it's difficult to find a perfect fit for the 10-time All-Star.
If Anthony does choose to continue his NBA career (more on that later), here are a few possibilities...
The obvious connection: Lakers
It's unavoidable. The Lakers have been lingering in the background ever since Anthony and the Rockets parted ways.
However, the connection emerged because of LeBron James' desire to play with one of his best friends rather than the Lakers' desire to add Anthony to the roster. Wojnarowski notes the Lakers don't plan to waive a player in order to open the door for Anthony, but Los Angeles could be the top destination if president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka decide to move a few pieces around.
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James' influence is undoubtedly important, but this doesn't make much basketball sense. James, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram would all play ahead of Anthony, and turning Anthony into a spot-up shooter didn't work out well in Houston. What is his role in LA?
Until Anthony joins a new team, the Lakers rumors will never die. Just don't be surprised if it doesn't happen.
The playoff hopefuls: Heat, Pelicans, Trail Blazers
New Orleans and Portland were among the teams interested in Anthony back in November, and though their situations are different now, the Pelicans and Trail Blazers could still make calls to Anthony's agent.
The Pels are three games back of the No. 8 seed, and Anthony Davis will miss a few games with a finger injury. With a brutal stretch on the schedule ahead, New Orleans could use some depth. Unfortunately, the Pelicans have a top-five offensive rating and bottom-five defensive rating, so Anthony is exactly the kind of player they don't need.
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The Trail Blazers tried to acquire Anthony in 2017, and CJ McCollum seemed to think Anthony would have been on board with a move to the Northwest Division. Portland is a bottom-10 team in terms of bench scoring, so Anthony could provide a boost for the second unit. The Blazers aren't in dire straits, though, at 29-20 overall (No. 4 in the West). If they're going to make moves on the fringes, Anthony likely won't be the biggest game changer on the market.
In the East, the Heat are fighting to stay over .500 and secure a postseason berth. They are elite defensively (sixth in defensive rating) but could use a scoring threat on the perimeter. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has consistently gotten the most out of his players, and the training staff always keeps players in peak condition. It doesn't hurt that Anthony's close friend, Dwyane Wade, is hanging out in Miami. Maybe a final run for both of them?
The wild card: Nets
There are no obvious ties, no buddies sending texts and no previous trade talks. Why would the Nets do this?
Well, Brooklyn would offer Anthony a chance to come home without ever talking to Knicks owner James Dolan again. The Nets also have a roster spot open after buying out Kenneth Faried, so there are less complicating factors involved. It could be a case of right place, right time.
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This is a young, exciting team, so it would be understandable if the Nets didn't want to pull the trigger on an Anthony deal and mess with chemistry. Still, he has shown the ability to sacrifice for his team and could be open to an off-the-board opportunity.
The unceremonious ending: Retirement
Allen Iverson said his former teammate shouldn't retire because he's "got a lot left in the tank" and just needs to be in the "right situation." There has been plenty of support for Anthony from players and fans alike, but what is the right situation for Melo?
He won't be signing a long-term contract at 34 years old, and he isn't good enough to be a starter. Unless he is comfortable going the Vince Carter route and bouncing around on non-contending teams, the best choice could be to walk away. (It should be noted Carter is an absolute freak of nature for extending his career this long.)
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Take it from another former NBA star.
"I don’t want him to go through another situation like this, and people are just pouring negativity on this man’s legacy," Tracy McGrady said in November. "I really think, because it hasn’t worked out the last two teams, just go ahead and — you have a Hall of Fame career — just go ahead and let it go."
Retirement is a personal decision, and Anthony may not be willing to let go of the game yet. It's completely up to him.
But it would be a shame if a top-20 scorer in NBA history and surefire Hall of Famer kept crawling down this path.
