NBA 18/19: 3 playoff contenders who can still sign Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony's spell with the Houston Rockets lasted just 10 games, and the veteran has now been on the search for a new team since November. However, despite Anthony's wealth of experience, he has found it difficult to earn a spot on another NBA roster, and time is now running out for the former Knicks man to find a temporary home for the remainder of the season.

Anthony is eligible to play in the playoffs having been released by the Chicago Bulls ahead of the waiver deadline, although he has so far only attracted interest from the Lakers, who subsequently cooled their interest due to their inability to compete for the playoffs.

Nevertheless, the current pool of free-agents available around the league is extremely shallow, and a few notable franchises still have open roster spots to fill ahead of the postseason. So, as we head towards next months playoffs, here are the three teams that Anthony could still join.

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#3. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are set to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015

The Brooklyn Nets have been one of the biggest surprises of the NBA season so far. Heading into the 18/19 campaign, the Nets had collectively won 69 games over three seasons, however, a record of 38-37 has put the team in a strong position to secure their first postseason berth since 2015.

Earlier this week, the Nets filled their roster out with the addition of Tahjere McCall, however, his 10-day contract is not expected to be extended, leaving the Nets with a spot to fill for the playoffs. Anthony himself is a Brooklyn native, and his previous playoff experience could be useful on an extremely young and inexperienced roster.

#2. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics started the season as the favorites, however, they only sit fourth in the East standings

Heading into the season, the Boston Celtics were fancied by many to be the team that challenged the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. However, Boston has surprisingly struggled, and speculation over the futures of Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown has negatively affected the team all season long.

Despite their troubles, the Celtics still look set to secure homecourt advantage in the playoffs, and once Greg Monroe's 10-day contract expires next week, the Celtics will once again have an open roster spot to fill.

When assessing the Celtics current roster, the team are not particularly short in any area, and the addition of Anthony would be a risk-free move. Melo would add experience to a young Celtics roster, and the veteran could also contribute valuable points from the bench.

#1. Miami Heat

Anthony and Wade were both of the famous 2003 draft class

For the majority of the season, the Miami Heat looked set to miss out on the playoffs for the third time in five years. However, since the turn of the year, the team has increasingly turned to youth which has helped fuel a run towards the 2019 postseason.

Despite their turnaround in form, the Heat remains short on depth, and they are currently the only franchise in the NBA that has two vacant roster spots. There is also little doubt that the team would benefit from having another experienced player available on the bench.

Anthony's friendship with Dwyane Wade is also well documented, with Melo even recently attending the Heat's game against the Knicks. Evidently, Melo would not be a key player for the Heat, however, there is no reason why he can't make an impact like that of Wade as part of the Miami reserve unit.