It remains an unequivocal fact that future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony is, and always will be, a walking bucket.
Now 38, Anthony isn’t here to prove anything — he plays for the love of the game. This NBA journey hasn’t always been kind to the former No. 3 pick, and some of his criticism is warranted, but Anthony has left his stamp on the game and influenced a generation of players to come. At this stage of his career, he remains a valuable scorer who is willing to accept a lesser role on a winning team.
The term 3-level scorer is thrown around a lot these days, and though it applies to a range of talented scorers, no one embodies the term quite like Carmelo. A physical force of nature blending strength, size, and quickness, peak Melo was as dominant from the perimeter as he was in the post. A show-stealing shooter who could finish with either hand or punish opponents from the triple-threat, Melo has defied generations of basketball.
To this day, Carmelo Anthony can help a championship contender.
Melo performed admirably for the Los Angeles Lakers, posting a positive on/off differential for a team that finished 16 games under .500. Carmelo scored 13.3 points per game on 57.9% true shooting — the highest percentage of his 19-year career. Per Basketball Index, Anthony ranked in the 90th percentile or higher in 3-point shot making, overall perimeter shooting, transition impact, and post-up impact per 75 possessions last year. These rankings are a reflection of Carmelo’s ability to leave a lasting impact both on and off the ball.
Whether they need an isolation scorer off the bench or an off-ball perimeter threat at the four, lineups across the league would benefit from Anthony’s talent. As we approach the tail end of this summer’s free agency period, Melo could be one of the most crucial last-minute additions.