Nets move on from Carmelo Anthony opting to sign C.J. Williams
The Carmelo Anthony saga continues as the Brooklyn Nets move on from signing the former OKC Thunder forward electing to go with younger talents.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were pushing Brooklyn Nets management to sign Carmelo Anthony this season. Since the OKC Thunder failed OK3 experiment Anthony has spent precious little time on an NBA court.
After the Thunder traded Melo to the Atlanta Hawks his contract was bought out and he signed with Houston. Anthony’s Rockets tenure was short-lived as he played in only 10 games (two as a starter). Ironically, Anthony’s last appearance came in a loss to the OKC Thunder on November 11, 2018.
Melo spent the next several months away from the Rockets squad until General Manager Daryl Morey sent the former superstar to Chicago. The Bulls never tried to utilize the forward releasing the former star without ever giving him a chance to play. Anthony spent the remainder of the 2018-19 season off the hardwood.
Former Clippers/T’Wolves forward CJ Williams has agreed to a non-guaranteed deal with the Nets, and Brooklyn is progressing on deal to sign ex-Knicks F Lance Thomas too, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 25, 2019
More from Thunder News
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
While teams haven’t exactly been clamoring to ink the 10-time All-Star signing with the Nets seemed like a logical move and fit. Especially considering Wilson Chandler will serve a 25-game suspension for testing positive for PED usage.
In addition, Durant is likely out for the majority of the season (if not its entirety) due to his Achilles tendon injury. Given these factors, Brooklyn could use more depth in the frontcourt.
For a while, it looked like the Brooklyn Nets were leaning in the direction of signing Anthony and appeasing their two recently signed superstars. That situation changed Wednesday when the Nets decided to sign shooting guard C.J. Williams (who can also sub in at small forward), inexperienced big man John Egbunu and are rumored to also be signing veteran forward, Lance Thomas as per NBA insider Shams Charania.
After an NBA career which witnessed years of scoring prowess by Melo, his past few seasons have been mired in mediocrity. In his first 14 seasons, Anthony averaged 24. 8 points per game. That regression began the season he signed with the Thunder when he averaged 16.2 points and dropped to 13.4 points per game while in Houston.
Next. Thunder and small markets set to benefit from new NBA tampering rules. dark
Still, as a reserve player, there was the belief he could easily produce for a team, especially a deep team. Again, the best fit would be with a deep squad, but for now, Melo returns to the practice court and awaits the call from a club desirous of adding reserve scoring production.