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The Oklahoma With Thunder have a big summer ahead of them, staring with free agent guard/forward Paul George. However, they've also got to deal Carmelo Anthony's decision on his player option and work around that. According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, the Thunder have their answer, and it's really not all that surprising: Anthony has no plans to opt out of the final year of his deal, one that owes him just under $28 million.
Carmelo Anthony does not intend to opt out of his current contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to a person familiar with Anthony’s decision.
Anthony has until Saturday at midnight (Eastern) to exercise the option that would make him a free agent July 1 — provided he were willing to walk away from the $27.9 million he is owed next season. But he is planning to let the deadline pass quietly and keep his current contract in effect, according to the person, who was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.
Anthony had a rough season with the Thunder, never really finding his place alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George. After averaging at least 20 points per game in his first 14 NBA seasons Anthony averaged just 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.6 steals per game on just 40.4 percent shooting from the field, all of which are career-lows. A team like the Thunder likely won't be keeping Anthony next year, especially when the forward himself expressed doubt about returning to the same or similar situation that he was in last year.
“It’s something I really have to think about, if I really want to be this type of player, finish out my career as this type of player, knowing that I have so much left in the tank and I bring so much to the game of basketball.”
The Utah Jazz defeated the Thunder in the first round of last year's playoffs, a result that surprised many. Thunder GM Sam Presti, meanwhile, says that there has been dialogue with Anthony's side, but that nothing has changed.
“We’ve had several conversations with his representation and that’s pretty normal course. I wish I could tell you a whole lot has changed since the end of the season. We’re still in June and the season doesn’t start until October, so we’ll continue to have that dialogue moving forward.”
Anthony, is 34 years of age, has proven to be rather ineffective in today's fast paced NBA, at least until he adjusts his game to it.
