Carmelo Anthony didn’t have to do anything to pick up his player option for the Oklahoma City Thunder this fall. That was the easy part, let that option kick in and get paid. But it was also clear that the Thunder would do everything they could to get out from under his contract, and according to a report, that process is well underway.
With Carmelo’s nearly $28 million payday on the books right now, the Thunder are looking at a record-setting payroll and a huge luxury tax hit. Getting rid of Anthony from a play perspective on the court seemed likely, but financially, having Melo on the roster was outright untenable.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Royce Young, the two sides are working on an arrangement that would save the Thunder about $100 million, though just how Anthony gets off the roster is up for debate just yet.
Wojnarowski and Young reported Friday that the team could use a stretch provision to take Anthony’s salary off its roster next season, but working out a trade would require getting Melo’s approval of the destination as well.
Oklahoma City can use the stretch provision on Anthony’s $27.9 million contract to eliminate a staggering $107 million off the team’s 2018-19 payroll and tax bill, but the Thunder first plan to pursue trade possibilities with teams looking to acquire a massive expire deal to salary cap space in July 2019 free agency.
Anthony still holds trade veto power, but it’s likely that any proposed deal would be with a team wanting simply to waive Anthony and allow him into free agency.
Melo has shown off a carefree attitude this offseason, but once he’s not on the Thunder it will be time to get serious, especially if he’s a free agent looking for a new team. After a disappointing season on a Thunder team that struggled to find cohesion, he will be playing for his third team in three years this fall, and he’ll have a lot to prove.
