How to escape Carmelo Anthony's giant contract - SB Nation

It's not Carmelo Anthony's fault that his game is aging and he's getting less productive. It happens to all NBA players eventually. But many former stars on the decline find a way to age gracefully. Carmelo isn't there.

Carmelo blamed his poor numbers this season on a slapdash role that wasn't planned (which, fair) and reiterated that he is not willing to take a bench role, even at this point in his career. In fact, he called coming off the bench "out of the question." He doesn't realize that he's no longer good enough to dictate his terms!

The Thunder can use this to their advantage. Anthony has a $28 million player option for next season. He is widely expected to pick it up. OKC should have Billy Donovan declare in so many words that the Thunder look forward to having Melo as a sixth man next season. Reassert control and make it clear that the $28 million comes with a deep price: a bench role. For whatever reason, Melo is deeply offended by the idea he wouldn't start. Use that leverage to get him out of there.

Of course, that plan could go wildly wrong: Melo could ignore the threat and bring hot drama to the Thunder in training camp when the bench role actually starts to be implemented. The question is whether Russell Westbrook or Paul George, if he stays, would do anything one way or another.