Report: Portland Trail Blazers to Sign Carmelo Anthony

Ten-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony’s NBA career is not done just yet. According to ESPN, the Portland Trail Blazers are signing the future Hall of Famer to a non-guaranteed deal.

The 35-year-old Syracuse product was a free agent for most of last season after playing just ten games with the Houston Rockets. He was effectively dismissed from the team in mid-November and traded to Chicago last January, but was waived on Feb. 1.

USA Basketball also declined Anthony’s request to join the team this past summer for the FIBA World Cup.

Anthony has averaged 24.0 points per game in 16 NBA seasons and could provide the Trail Blazers with an offensive boost. The Trail Blazers are 4-8 to start the season and Portland’s offense has slipped after being third overall in offensive rating last year. The team is also relatively thin at power forward after Zach Collins suffered a dislocated shoulder in early November. 

According to SI's Chris Mannix, Portland had been among the teams most interested in the former Knicks and Nuggets star in recent years. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski notes that Portland GM Neil Olshey and Anthony's agent, Leon Rose of CAA Sports, had stayed in contact since the preseason with conversations picked up over the past two days. Olshey and head coach Terry Stotts talked directly with Anthony on Thursday before reaching an agreement.

News of Anthony joining the Trail Blazers was met with ringing approval from two of Anthony's closest friends.

The team visits the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday before traveling to Houston to face the Rockets on Monday. 

Anthony, however, is not expected to make his Portland debut until Tuesday night's game at New Orleans at the earliest, according to ESPN. He still has to complete his physical before he contract is finalized.