Joining the Trail Blazers is a “perfect opportunity,” according to Carmelo Anthony, who officially inked a non-guaranteed deal Tuesday.
“I always kept my eye on Portland,” says Anthony.
The 35-year-old future Hall of Famer has been out of the NBA for over a year, and will make his Rip City debut tonight, in a starting role.
“What happened before is the past, I can’t dwell on that. I learned from that,” Anthony said in the video. “Me and [Damian Lillard], we’ve been talking for the past couple years, off and on. I just look at that opportunity, that team, and say, ‘Look, this is what I can bring to the team. This is where I can help.’ It will only work if all parties see it the same way.”
The Blazers hope there is enough game left in the 35-year-old forward to help them overcome a 5-9 start.
“This happened at a point in my life where I do have a lot of clarity and understanding of different situations and just life,” Anthony added. “My approach is totally different.”
The agreement was not formalized until Tuesday when he signed a nonguaranteed contract that goes through January. If he stays, the contract becomes guaranteed for the rest of the season.
“Carmelo is an established star in this league that will provide a respected presence in our locker room and a skill set at a position of need on the floor,” Neil Olshey, Portland’s president of basketball operations, said in a statement.
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