One New Year’s resolution for every NBA team

Oklahoma City Thunder – Let go

They say that if you love something to send it to the bench. If it keeps playing hard, then you know Carmelo Anthony probably isn’t on your team.

Maybe trading away Enes Kanter and the equivalent of two 2014 first round picks and two second rounders in 2015 was a bridge too far. Maybe Paul George and Russell Westbrook were strong enough on their own and getting a third star on his way down from his peak who doesn’t really do much other than score in isolation wasn’t a way to challenge Houston or Golden State at the top of the Western Conference.

To Presti’s credit, you have to make a big swing in order to try and retain Russell Westbrook. To have him leave after Kevin Durant decided that he wanted to play defense elsewhere would be disastrous for the franchise. George was only guaranteed for one year. The time to make moves was now.

Well, we gave it a real shot. We tried real hard. Carmelo Anthony was there, and Carmelo Anthony said “yes, I will waive my no trade clause to be Carmelo Anthony elsewhere.” Apparently it came as a surprise, but Carmelo Anthony is now playing like Carmelo Anthony on a new team.

That player has a good role. That role is on the bench. It’s difficult to say if Carmelo Anthony realizes or accepts that, but if he doesn’t then maybe that’s less important than the reality of what he brings to the team while starting. Maybe waive him. Maybe hire Phil Jackson.