Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony (#00) taps his temple after knocking down a three-pointer as the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoffs matchup at Moda Center on Saturday, May 29, 2021.Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Carmelo Anthony made headlines Tuesday afternoon after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the veteran’s free agency decision.
The 37-year-old and future Hall of Famer Anthony is taking his talents to Los Angeles and joining the Lakers on a one-year deal, joining his longtime friend LeBron James.
The 10-time All-Star Anthony departs Portland after two seasons in which came off the bench for the Trail Blazers. Anthony averaged 13.4 points, while shooting 42 percent from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc in 69 appearances for the Blazers last season.
Social media had a lot to say about the move for Anthony, who is hoping to capture his first NBA championship with the Lakers. Here’s a recap of reaction:
LeBron did the smart thing and waited for Melo to learn how to be a role player before picking him up as a role player lol.
— Jason Timpf (@_JasonLT) August 3, 2021
Lakers gonna SHATTER the jersey sales record for a season 👀
New LeBron, Russ and Melo!
— Ruben Palacios (@RubenTalksKicks) August 3, 2021
Updated Lakers depth chart:
PG- Westbrook, Nunn
SG – Ellington, THT, Monk
SF – LeBron, Bazemore, McKinnie
PF – Davis, Melo, Ariza
C – Gasol, Howard— Justin Phan (@jphanned) August 3, 2021
Remember when Melo was out of the league for 2 years, or when Dwight could only get a non-guaranteed contract, or when Nunn was getting DNPs in the playoffs last year…. But somehow now that they’re joined the Lakers the team is now “Stacked”
— DBG (@DBGyt_) August 3, 2021
Melo to the Lakers. 2 years too late. But better late than never!!!
— Romeo Travis (@RomeTrav) August 3, 2021
Carmelo Anthony — 37 years old
LeBron James – 36 years old
Trevor Ariza – 36 years old
Marc Gasol – 36 years old
Dwight Howard – 35 years old (turning 36 Dec. 8)
Wayne Ellington – 33 years old
Kent Bazemore – 32 years old
Russell Westbrook — 32 years old— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 3, 2021
By teaming up with Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James will now have played with 10 members of the 2003 draft, plus Udonis Haslem who was undrafted that year, and he was coached by Luke Walton, the No. 32 pick.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) August 3, 2021
— Aron Yohannes
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