Melo: No OKC return for ‘bench role’

Carmelo Anthony, the day after the Thunder’s season ended in misery with a first-round series loss to the Jazz, gave no guarantees he will be back for a second season in Oklahoma City, admitting the reduced role he accepted may not be something he wants to continue in next season.

“Yeah, I’m not sacrificing no bench role,” he said Saturday during an exit-interview press conference. “That’s out of the question.”

The former Knicks star sat for much of the fourth quarter Friday in the seriesending loss to Utah, finishing with just seven points. He was also benched for much of the second half of Game 5, in which the Thunder rallied from 25 points down to win without him. During that contest, Anthony had an argument with assistant coach Maurice Cheeks about getting back into the game.

Anthony can opt out of the final year of his contract, worth $28 million. That would be foolish financially, but at this stage, he’s out to win a title and said money isn’t the driving force. It sounded very much as if, should his role not change, he would sooner go elsewhere than remain in Oklahoma City.

Anthony said multiple times he will “re-evaluate’’ his future. Paul George will be a free agent and he sounded more eager to return to play with Russell Westbrook.

“As far as being effective as that type of player, I don’t think I can be effective as that type of player,” Anthony said. “I think I was willing to accept that challenge in that role, but I think I bring a little bit more to the game as far as being more knowledgeable and what I still can do as a basketball player.”

Anthony said his trade from the Knicks to the Thunder on the eve of training camp didn’t give the coaching staff time to incorporate him with any smoothness.

Asked if he’ll be back, Anthony said: “There’s just some things that we have to evaluate. There’s some things that we have to kind of step away from the game now.

“I think everybody has their own decision to make. We talk, we communicate. I think that’s the beauty in having the friendship and the relationship that we all have.”

Anthony is coming to the final year of a $124 million contract and will turn 34 next month. A plausible scenario is joining his buddy LeBron James in Cleveland or wherever he ends up fleeing.