Paul George’s future with the Oklahoma City Thunder may remain up in the air, but the team can at least rest easy knowing Carmelo Anthony isn’t going anywhere this summer.
Or so says one Western Conference executive.
From Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus:
“Anthony will opt in,” a Western Conference executive said. “There’s no question about it. He won’t get [$27.9 million] anywhere else. The Thunder may have the most conservative ownership in the NBA. There’s no way they’ll pay $250 million. They can’t do it.”
This comment was made in reference to the Thunder being able to afford their current core should George return. And given the cost of keeping all this together, they might actually prefer it if Anthony exercised his early termination option for next season, irrespective of whether George stays or goes.
But, as the anonymous exec pointed out, that ain’t happening. It would take Anthony probably three years to recoup that $27.9 million in another contract, so even exploring free agency to secure more long-term money feels out of the question. Maybe he’d leave that dough on the table to join a contender if George does bolt, but he’d need to know what his All-Star running mate is doing before the start of free agency, since he’ll have to make his decision by the June cutoff.
Failing this, some secret agreement with Chris Paul and James Harden in Houston, something similar with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Cleveland or a ridiculous scenario that includes the entire banana boat crew, Anthony is almost certain to opt into the final year of his contract. And for now, we’ll assume this is A-okay the Thunder.
After all, if they weren’t prepared to pay out the rest of his contract, luxury-tax implications and all, why agree to deal for him and his no-trade clause?
