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During the offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers had emerged as a possible landing spot for All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony prior to him being moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In that time, there was major recruitment from the likes of the Blazers' dynamic backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum toward the 33-year-old. This is something that McCollum recently reflected upon and provided further insight, according to a Q&A session with David Aldridge of NBA.com.
Article Continues Below“I mean, I figured why not? Why not recruit someone you think can help your team? I just told him the truth. I spend my summers in New York anyway — I’m there with my girl, anyway — so seeing him work out in the same gym and having the same trainer, I didn’t harp on it. I told him one time how he could help our team, and that was basically the end of it. I felt like when someone’s a free agent and you know them and you’re around them, you need to share how you think they can help you and how you think you can help them. They have the right to make their own decision, and I think he’s happy where he’s at, and I wish him the best except when they play us.”
Although McCollum didn't pressure Anthony to make a decision, it didn't hurt for him to present the opportunity to possibly join him and Lillard in Portland. The trio could have quickly formed a formidable team in the stacked Western Conference.
However, the 10-time All-Star didn't seriously consider waiving his no-trade clause for the Blazers at any time during the entire process. This isn't to say that the possibility didn't intrigue him, but rather that there were better situations he believed he could have joined such as the Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Anthony holding the option to become a free agent next summer, the Blazers could once again enter the picture as a landing spot for his services.
