Portland Trail Blazers: Is a championship the only reason Melo left Rip City?
On January 19, 2020, Carmelo Anthony told Portland fans he wanted to retire as a Blazer. The Portland Trail Blazers signed the first-time coach Chauncey Billups on July 27, 2021. On August 3, Carmelo left the Blazers to join LeBron James and the Lakers to get a ring.
“I would love to stay,” he said. “I feel like this is the place for me to end my career. It could have happened earlier, but it didn’t. Now, where I’m at in my life and my career — this is where I want to retire.” – Carmelo Anthony, January 19, 2020
Everything negative that could have been said about Carmelo Anthony from 2017 to 2019 was said. It started in New York – with Phil Jackson. So Melo left New York. Although the fans wanted him to stay, they understood that there was a lot of pressure to go.
Jackson traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder to join Russell Westbrook and Paul George. They were to be a big three. It lasted a season. After OKC was eliminated in the first round of the 2018 playoffs, the Thunder traded Carmelo to Atlanta. The Hawks then released him, leaving Anthony to sign with the Houston Rockets.
Melo left Atlanta and went to, of all places, Houston. Was he that desperate to remain in the league? Did he feel safe playing with his Banana Boat buddy Chris Paul? Suffice it to say it didn’t last long.
According to Daryl Morey, he just didn’t fit and was released after just ten games. So on November 15, 2018, Carmelo Anthony had no team and no prospects to continue his career. He, like the rest of us, thought it would be just a matter of weeks, surely no longer than months.
Why isn’t any team interested in signing Melo?
The answer to that question came in the form of his “friend,” Chauncey Billups.
“Melo was like a good teammate, man. Melo practiced every day. He didn’t miss any games. Now the only thing I will say – and I’ve even told Melo this – scoring 30 meant too much to Melo…Scoring 30 meant too much, but I think now you look, fast forward the tape, and the reason why he’s not in the league…is he hasn’t mentally taken that step back to say, ‘OK, I’ll come in and play against back-ups. I’ll try to help the team out’…Well, he’s not there yet.” – Chauncey Billups.
The ten-time NBA All-Star responded,
“My only issue was the timing of his comments. Because of everything that surrounded me on these comments, on this narrative around Melo, I don’t think it was the right time for him to say, ‘Oh, he liked scoring 30 in a loss, but he didn’t like scoring 20 in a win.’ I just think that narrative, that conversation, was [happening at] the wrong time.” – Carmelo Anthony
"Scoring 30 meant too much to Melo"
Chauncey Billups broke down why Carmelo Anthony isn't in the NBA.
More: https://t.co/a0cdTfOW6D pic.twitter.com/krHwXQ1t3Z
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 10, 2019
Salvation in the form of the Portland Trail Blazers
This writer always wanted Melo to join the Blazers. If he couldn’t be a Knick, I wanted him to be a Blazer with Damian Lillard. In my opinion, they were two players who deserved to win a championship. Yes! Dame and Melo will finally get a chance at a ring.
He reminded me of the Melo that played in New York, only this time he was coming off the bench. So I guess that is something he can do. He could take a lesser role and not be a lesser player. He grew to be a favorite in Portland, and Dame was pleased.
Anthony averaged 43.9% from the floor, 39.9% from three, and 86.7% from the free-throw line in his two years at Portland. Those are nice numbers coming off of your bench. However, we will have to wait and see if Neil Olshey’s offseason moves were worth it?
The answer is no
The answer to the question is no. A championship hope is not the only reason Melo left Rip City. He is the best active player, never to win a championship. The problem for Portland is they will miss his scoring and leadership both on the floor and in the locker room. Right now, there is no one on the roster that can take his place.
We cannot blame him for leaving. However, his only option now is with LeBron James and the roster the Lakers put together for 2021-22. All we can do is wish him well and understand that once again, Carmelo Anthony is making the best decision for him at this time.
Please let us know in the comments section below or on social media if you agree or disagree. We would love to hear from you.