It is no secret that Damian Lillard has long been requesting the Portland Trail Blazers' front office get him more help in order to take that next step as a team to legitimate championship contender. What Lillard recently revealed, however, is that Carmelo Anthony has actually been on his personal radar for a long time.

Lillard himself confirmed a claim on Twitter about him trying to recruit Anthony to Portland for an extended period.

Lillard's wish finally came true this season, with the Blazers signing Anthony in November. Melo may no longer be the dominant All-Star he once was, but he has still played a significant role for Portland this season. He may not have been the superstar Lillard was hoping for, but there's no denying the Blazers struck gold on signing a player some believed was already washed out not so long ago.

On Tuesday, Anthony had another solid game for the Blazers in a huge win against the surging Houston Rockets. Melo logged 15 points, 11 rebounds, an assist, two steals, and a block. The 36-year-old also knocked down two triples, one of which served as a dagger late in the fourth.

Portland is now just a game and a half outside the playoff picture in the West and is very much in the running for a spot in the postseason. Anthony's play will have a significant impact on the performance of the Blazers the rest of the way.

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