![Carmelo Anthony agrees to return to Oklahoma City Thunder for final year of contract [Image by Keith Allison / Flickr]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/6/15/660x290/b_502x220x82/carmelo-anthony-agrees-to-return-to-oklahoma-city-thunder-for-final-year-of-contract-image-by-keith-allison-flickr_2039307.jpg "Carmelo Anthony agrees to return to Oklahoma City Thunder for final year of contract [Image by Keith Allison / Flickr]")
The Oklahoma City Thunder brought in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in 2017 to team with Russell Westbrook in the hopes of bringing a title to Oklahoma City. The team, which also included Steven Adams, looked great on paper but they struggled to mesh early in the season and ended up being a one-and-done in the NBA playoffs. Both George and Carmelo had the chance to opt out of their deals with the Thunder this offseason, and while PG13 has not made his decision yet, Carmelo has chosen to opt into his deal and remain with the Thunder.
Carmelo's deal with the Thunder
The Carmelo Anthony deal is for $27.9 million and is the final year of the contract that he came to the Oklahoma City Thunder with. The original deal was a five-year contract with the New York Knicks worth $120 million. There was also a no-trade clause and Carmelo refused to waive it unless he approved of where he ended up.
Anthony chose the Oklahoma City Thunder and ended up with the worst base numbers of his entire career. Over his career, Anthony has averaged 24.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and three assists a game with a 44-percent field goal percentage. In 2017-18 with the Thunder, Carmelo averaged 16.2 points, 1.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds a game while shooting 40.4-percent.
However, one area that Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti pointed out to reporters when talking about Carmelo Anthony was his three-point shooting this past season. Anthony hit 35.7-percent from beyond the arc and hit 169 3's this year -- the most of his career.
There were concerns that Carmelo wasn't going to re-sign with the Thunder.
When the season ended, Anthony said he gave up everything to come to Oklahoma City, including his family, and then he had to change his entire game to fit in. He also said that coming back was not an option if he was not going to start.
Thunder's options for the future
Just because Carmelo Anthony chose to return, it does not mean he will play for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018-19.
The Thunder can't trade him due to his no-trade clause. They can, however, negotiate a buyout or possible work out a trade that Anthony likes. With that said, Presti said that the Thunder would welcome Carmelo back if they are all on the same page.
That makes it sound like the starting job might not be a given, and if Carmelo Anthony wants to try to help the Oklahoma City Thunder win an NBA Championship, he will have to possibly make some concessions.
