Carmelo Anthony said that he found a new home in Portland after the team welcomed him and gave him a new chance to play.
The season of the Portland Trailblazers is something worthy of a movie adaptation. They fought through pain and injury through and through. In the end, they went toe-to-toe with the season’s most favorite to win the championship.
Unfortunately, all these good things had to come to an end. Despite a wonderful NBA bubble run, the Los Angeles Lakers were just too much for the Blazers to handle. Moving forward, they have to regroup and decide how to win better in the next season.
The Blazers have one of the best backcourt duos in the league. Now they have to decide whether they’ll sign Melo back to the team or not.
Carmelo Anthony wants to stay
Melo looked like a lost cause before his stint with the Blazers. He was an odd fit in the Thunder roster, and he was also a sore thumb in the Rockets’ system. Analysts and commentators were quick to dismiss him altogether. What they didn’t see was that Carmelo is a fighter, and with the given right opportunity, he can still play at a high level.
This foresight was what brought Melo to Portland. The team gave him a chance, and he didn’t disappoint. Now, he wants to stay with the team and city that embraced him. He said,
“Honestly, thank God I found a home in Portland. I got comfortable with the organization. I got comfortable with the guys on the team. They got comfortable with me.”
Considering Carmelo’s advanced age of 36, he’ll have a hard time finding a new system to be part of. Nonetheless, wherever he’ll sign with, Carmelo will still be a veteran that will adjust to what is given to him.
Damian Lillard will need a co-leader in the locker room
Carmelo wasn’t shy to say that Damian Lillard is the best player he’s played with. As such, he has heaved praises to the now-injured point guard. Be that as it may, he’ll figure to return next season with a re-invigorated spirit and a healthy crew.
The chemistry between Lillard and Carmelo is undeniable. Both players are lethal scorers, and they both can carry their teams during clutch situations. Therefore, having Carmelo back in the mix will be a good idea for Portland. After all, it was Melo who helped carry the baton while the Blazers were limping to the NBA bubble.
Image from Carmelo Anthony/ YouTube thumbnail