The Portland Trail Blazers effectively granted the wish of many NBA fans and players alike when they signed 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Blazers GM Neil Olshey reportedly told Anthony: “You need us, and we need you.”
Anthony's last official NBA game came a little over a year ago after his 10-game tenure with the Houston Rockets abruptly ended. Since then, the veteran forward has been trying to work his way back into the league, but to no avail.
Now, the opportunity is there for Anthony to prove to the world that he still belongs in the NBA, a notion that nearly every team in the Association no longer believed in.
Nearly every team except for the Blazers, of course, who came knocking at Anthony's door with the team struggling out of the gates in the early offerings of the season. Portland currently holds a 4-8 slate and is on the outside-looking-in of the Western Conference playoff picture.
Being in the daunted West, the Blazers can't afford to have losses to keep on piling on. With a slew of injuries hitting the squad, Portland looked for the best possible option in the market, a 35-year old former scoring champ who could possibly help them now when they most need it.
Currently, the Blazers are without starting power forward Zach Collins, who underwent shoulder surgery and is set to be out until March. Likewise, 40-year old big man Pau Gasol remains without a timeline, and it's highly unlikely that he will play as much when he returns on the floor.
With Anthony looking for just one team to give him another opportunity in the NBA, and the Blazers in need of reinforcements that, luckily for Melo, fit his bill, it makes sense for both sides to give each other a chance.
Follow Us
Subscribe