Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 bold predictions

By Rucker Haringey

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 25: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court as Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz applies pressure during game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 25, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 25: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court as Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz applies pressure during game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 25, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /
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Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City Thunder
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 23: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. The Thunder will let Carmelo Anthony go

No one in the NBA is under the impression that Anthony is worth the nearly $28 million he’s set to earn in Oklahoma City this season. The Thunder, more than anyone, are keenly aware that is a massive overpay.

If they believed he were still a positive influence on the court they might be willing to pay him the money and accept the consequences. Unfortunately, his sluggish play during the 2017-18 campaign made it pretty clear he doesn’t provide the Thunder’s on-court product any positive value. That means the franchise should look to jettison Anthony by any means necessary.

Sam Presti and company would love to find a taker for his massive salary, but that may be impossible. The Thunder would have to attach massive draft compensation to convince a team to take that sort of salary on. They’d also have to get Anthony to agree to the deal. It’s hard to imagine Carmelo accepting a move to a lottery team with space like Atlanta or Chicago.

That means the Thunder may be forced to either buy him out or stretch him. Stretching him would give the team more salary relief in the short-term, but it wouldn’t buy them any cap space. The much smarter decision would be to try to buy Anthony out for a reasonable number.

Don’t expect Anthony to give back anything significant. He might pay a couple million for his basketball freedom, but he knows the market for his services will be tepid. Watch for the Thunder to buy him out, and for Anthony to go ring chasing somewhere else for the minimum.

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