Around this time last year, Carmelo Anthony was let go by the Houston Rockets after averaging a career-low 13 points a game. Carmelo did not find a new home last season or during this offseason and many thought we had seen the last of one of the all-time great scorers until last week the Portland Trailblazers who are off to a slow start this season gave Melo a chance.
The 6’8 scorer was shaking off the rust in his Trailblazers debut last night against the New Orleans Pelicans. Melo started the game in Damian Lillard’s absence and dropped 10 points on 4-14 shooting and 4 rebounds. The former Denver Nugget scored Portland’s first basket of the game on a wide-open 3 pointer assisted by C.J. McCollum.
“It felt great to be back in the flow of the game… Being back on the court, being back to where I think I belong,” Melo said in a post-game interview.
Anthony’s contract is non-guaranteed and will pay $2.15 million if he makes it past January 7on the roster. Portland is currently 5-10, the second-worst record in the Western Conference which is surprising considering that the Blazers made it to the Western Conference Finals last season.
Head Coach Terry Stotts is hoping that Carmelo will give them the lift they need to be competitive in the west. Melo has about 7 weeks to prove that if he wants that $2 million pay.