“The place that’s going to allow him to be Melo & understand that he still can play the game of basketball” - Dwyane Wade believes Carmelo Anthony's next destination will be a place that really "wants him"

Former Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade recently spoke about Carmelo Anthony's future in the NBA. The three-time NBA champion is very close friends with Anthony, who is still without a team in the offseason.

According to Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, Wade believes that Anthony will play for a team that allows him to express himself. Wade said that a team will come for Melo that truly wants him on its roster.

"The place that’s going to allow him to be Melo and understand that he still can play the game of basketball. A place where they can allow Melo to play the game he loves the way that Melo can," Dwyane Wade said.

It's unclear if Wade was taking a dig at the LA Lakers, the team that Melo played for during the 2021-22 campaign. A turbulent season with the franchise saw them not even make the play-in tournament.

Carmelo Anthony and much of the roster were largely blamed for their age and lack of defense. They were the oldest team in the league and one of the worst defensively. The Lakers capitulated to rosters that possessed youth and athleticism.

Expand Tweet

Is Dwyane Wade right to believe that Carmelo Anthony will find a franchise for next season?

Five seasons after averaging 27.4 points, Carmelo Anthony found himself out of the league. He started in all 78 appearances with the OKC Thunder in 2017-18, but was then cut after 10 games and two starts in Houston. He never played again that season but was part of the Portland Trail Blazers for the next two seasons.

Melo is recognized as one of the greatest scorers. He can still shoot, but at his age, he doesn't get the minutes or have the stamina to score in volume game after game. He would solve spacing issues for many teams. Melo also has the ability to go off on any given night, thereby making him a dangerous player.

Expand Tweet

Melo is probably no longer a starter in the league and has been reduced to a bench role. He has thrived in that role as he brings an offensive punch off the bench. Last season with the LA Lakers, Carmelo Anthony averaged 13.3 points while primarily coming off the bench. He shot 44.7%, including 37.5% from beyond the arc.

However, the only negative quality that comes with Anthony is his defense. Melo was never a good defender and that has become even more evident with age and attrition.

If a team like the Golden State Warriors signs him, he can excel as they will have good defenders surrounding Melo. The 10-time All-Star can add experience to any roster in the league.