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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 free agency destinations for Carmelo Anthony

By Stevie Cozens

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers hug before the start of Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers hug before the start of Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Carmelo Anthony destination #1 – Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets have significant cap space in the 2021 season and need to not only improve their offense but bring in veterans to help build the next strong Hornets team.

The Hornets rebuilt in the 2019 free agency period, controversially deciding to let franchise player Kemba Walker and promising wing Jeremy Lamb walk. They instead paid Terry Rozier and then watched second-round pick Devonte’ Graham and rookie PJ Washington put their hands up as future cornerstones for this team.

Graham and Washington are the building blocks for this team now. Longtime Hornet Marvin Williams is gone, and Nicolas Batum is oft-injured and on the last year of his deal in 2020.

The Hornets need offensive production and veterans that will hold the respect of the locker room. This season, there were thoughts that Melo might retire at the conclusion of the 2021 season, but as a spot up shooter, he still has at least another season or two left in the tank.

The Hornets need offense, and a young power forward like Washington could learn from one of the best to ever do it, in Melo.

If his camp think that he can play two more years in the league, they could potentially come to a two-year agreement with the Hornets. Something like two years – $7 million a year would fit nicely within the Hornets ample cap space and would give Melo a home for the next couple of seasons.

By securing a deal of this size, he could also be trade ammunition at the deadline, potentially helping a contender in the playoffs. In that event, the Hornets could secure a young player or an asset in return, if they had a season that didn’t go as planned.