Oklahoma trade Anthony to Atlanta
Thunder get Schroder in three-way deal, while Hawks expected to waive the 10-time All Star
>> OKLAHOMA CITY: Carmelo Anthony is done in Oklahoma City.
A person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press the Thunder are sending Anthony and a 2022 protected first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Hawks guard Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala. Anthony will be waived by the Hawks, clearing the way for him to sign as a free agent elsewhere. The person spoke on Thursday on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the situation publicly.
ESPN, who first reported the trade, said the Thunder will send Muscala to the Philadelphia 76ers for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Philadelphia’s Justin Anderson will be sent to Atlanta.
Schroder, a speedy 6ft 1in guard, averaged a career-high 19.4 points last season for the Hawks in 67 games, all starts.
Anthony’s lone season in Oklahoma City was largely a bust. He averaged 16.2 points and struggled at times in his new role alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George. The 10-time All-Star posted career lows in scoring average and field goal percentage, and the Thunder were ousted in the first round of the play-offs by Utah.
The 34-year-old Anthony had been the headliner his entire career — he’s 19th in NBA history with 25,417 points — but he was more of a catch-andshoot scorer last season instead of the isolation specialist he had always been. His playing time dwindled in the play-offs. In Game Six of the firstround series against Utah that ended Oklahoma City’s season, he played fewer minutes than reserve Jerami Grant. After the season, he said he prefers to play with the ball in his hands more and said coming off the bench is “out of the question.”
Anthony opted in earlier this summer to accept the US$28 million he was due next season. The Thunder re-signed Grant, then it was reported that Anthony and the Thunder would eventually part ways, though it was unclear how it would happen.
MAVS, NOWITZKI AGREE DEAL
Dirk Nowitzki is coming back for a 21st season with the Dallas Mavericks.
Nowtizki, 40, is finalising a oneyear, $5 million contract for the 201819 season, according to a Yahoo Sports report on Thursday.
Assuming he appears in at least one game, he will set the NBA record for consecutive seasons with one franchise by returning to the Mavericks, breaking a tie he currently shares with Kobe Bryant.
Dallas declined the option on Nowitzki’s contract earlier this offseason to improve their cap flexibility, but both sides expected a new agreement.
With 31,187 points, Nowitzki is currently sixth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list — 232 points behind Wilt Chamberlain and 149 points ahead of LeBron James.
LAKERS SIGN CARROLL
Still on the heels of their run to the Vegas Summer League championship game, the Los Angeles Lakers continue to make roster moves.
A day after signing former Final Four Most Outstanding Player Joel Berry II, the team announced on Thursday they signed Jeffrey Carroll and requested waivers on Malik Newman.
While terms of Carroll’s deal were not announced, it was reported last month that the team were likely to sign him to an Exhibit 10 contract. That allows a team to guarantee a player some money while also retaining the option to convert the player’s deal into a two-way contract.