Western Conference team contacted Carmelo Anthony
The New Orleans Pelicans have contacted Carmelo Anthony about a potential return to the NBA. The veteran forward retired at the end of last season. However, that hasn't stopped teams from around the world gauging his interest in a potential comeback.
Speaking on a recent episode of "7PM In Brooklyn," Anthony revealed he's also had offers from teams in China.
"China. The Pelicans called," Anthony said. "That would have been that jersey. Hide that, hide that."
Despite being one of the best pure scorers in NBA history, Anthony ended his career without a championship ring. The veteran could likely be enticed to come out of retirement to help a perennial contender and maybe give them some buckets off the bench. However, the Pelicans don't fit that mold.
Right now, New Orleans is getting their first real taste of how Zion Williamson fits with Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum. They've been waiting over a year to see how their star trio fits together. With so many questions lingering over the franchise, it makes no sense for Anthony to consider a comeback with them.
Of course, only Anthony knows how his body feels. If he still believes he could be a high-level contributor and would earn legitimate playing time on an NBA roster, maybe he will decide he's not ready to throw in the towel. If that was the case, though, he would likely already be part of an NBA team. He chose to retire for a reason.
Anthony's legacy is cemented. He is one of the greats. Returning to the league for anything other than a shot at a championship makes no sense for him or his legacy. The same can be said for going to play overseas. At such a late age, nothing other than a ring should move him to make a return. He's a wealthy man and will undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the coming years. He has nothing left to prove.
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