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It has been a long time coming, but Carmelo Anthony is finally back in the NBA after signing a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. Fans are already excited to see Melo back in an NBA uniform and play with the best the league has to offer.
However, there is an important question that needs to be asked after all of the hullabaloo surrounding his return has died down. Has Carmelo Anthony changed as an NBA player? Can he still find a niche in the league where it's crystal clear he's no longer the star player he once was?
There's some reason to believe the former New York Knicks star can still make it in the league, and the Portland Trail Blazers definitely offer a unique opportunity for him.
However, the obvious needs to be stated: He needs to scrap his ego if he wants to make the most of the opportunity the Blazers have given him. He must learn to accept whatever role Terry Stotts gives him because he's on a non-guaranteed contract.
Let's look at the specifics of his game and see how Anthony's time with Portland will possibly turn out.
The Blazers signed Melo for the instant scoring he can provide and to help with the club's questionable depth. Portland is currently without Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins and Pau Gasol, leaving a gaping hole in the frontcourt that Melo can fill. The Blazers have been relying on guys like Anthony Tolliver, Mario Hezonja and Skal Labissiere, with rookie Nassir Little even recently getting a start in a small lineup, which just doesn't cut it. Anthony can be a spot-up option for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum and potentially help an offense that ranks a middling 15th in offensive rating, per NBA.com.
Melo's scoring is his biggest draw, but his condition should also give Blazers fans an encouraging picture. Anthony has kept in shape ever since Houston waived him in November 2018. He has been waiting for a chance to return to the NBA and didn't let himself go. This means that the Melo Blazers fans will get is more likely close to his condition during his Houston Rockets days than originally expected.
A big question now is just how much Anthony is going to play. Stotts almost certainly isn't going to just throw Anthony out there in the starting lineup, no matter how much their rotation is compromised, but something like 15-20 minutes off the bench isn't out of the question if things go well.
Of course, there will be concerns about defense. Very little should be expected of Anthony on that end, so he's not going to help Portland's 19th-ranked defense. Rebounding has also been a major problem, but Melo isn't going to be some savior in that area either.
Still, there is an opportunity for Anthony to succeed in Portland and stick around. If he just focuses on playing the game and embraces his role, he may see his career on a similar trajectory as Dwight Howard, who has flourished in a reserve role with the Los Angeles Lakers.
