Most Likely Landing Spots for Carmelo Anthony in NBA Free Agency

Cover Photo: Getty Images

Carmelo Anthony has been out of the NBA for close to a full season now. He was on the Houston Rockets early last season before eventually being traded to the Bulls, who then waived him on Feb. 1, 2019. Melo has been a free agent ever since.

Despite Carmelo's career not going the way many had thought since departing the New York Knicks, many believe his career isn't over and he still has something to contribute to a team, in some capacity.

With that belief in mind, let's take a look at some potential landing spots for the 10-time NBA All-Star.

5. Golden State Warriors

This, admittedly is a longshot. But the Warriors, even if they manage to re-sign Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, will be without both of them for much of, if not all of, next season. If Melo chooses to go out West and try and chase a ring, he could provide some valuable scoring and veteran leadership while those two stars are out. If and when they return, he becomes added depth in the playoffs, which they were clearly lacking in 2019.

4. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are about location, as are all the remaining teams on this list. If the Clippers can snag a max guy and some other solid pieces, Melo could slide right into a bench role for a playoff contender. He already owns a home in Los Angeles and spends plenty of time there in the offseason, making LA one of his preferred destinations.

3. Brooklyn Nets

Despite previously playing for the Knicks, Carmelo was actually born in Brooklyn. The Nets have built themselves a nice young core and adding a veteran presence like Carmelo could do wonders. The attraction to the Nets only increases if they're able to lure in a max player or two this summer, but they would be a secondary option for Anthony following the top two choices on this list.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

It's no secret how close LeBron James and Carmelo are. After trading for Anthony Davis the Lakers are now the favorite to win the 2020 NBA Championship, according to FanDuel Sportsboook. If Carmelo doesn't mind playing fourth or even fifth fiddle on a bonafide contender, then the Lakers could be where he ends up. While Melo hasn't been open to that scenario in the past, if anyone can convince him to do that, it would be LeBron.

1. New York Knicks

"In the end, I am a New York Knick at heart." Carmelo said it himself when he chose to re-sign with the Knicks in 2014. And it still might ring true today. Over the past two years, he has likely learned that the grass isn't always greener. Of course, it most likely depends on what the Knicks do in free agency, but when asked about a potential reunion with the Knicks earlier this spring, Carmelo replied with a smile and said, "I have to see what's going on." Knicks fans are probably one of the few fanbases left that would welcome Melo with open arms. And, if they can lock down a top free agent or two with all that cap space, he just might welcome the chance to be the cherry on top.

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David Kaestle is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, David also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username davekaestle. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.