Boston Celtics named by B/R as best landing spot for 2x All-NBA Second-Teamer

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey recently comprised a list ranking the best landing spots for NBA veteran Carmelo Anthony and, unsurprisingly, the Boston Celtics stood alone at the very top of the list.

The Cs possess a clear need for a shooting wing able to spell Jayson Tatum at the 3 as well as Al Horford at the 4, which was the intended purpose for inking Danilo Gallinari to the taxpayer’s MLE this past July. Gallinari’s ACL tear in FIBA competition while preparing for EuroBasket 2022 has drastically altered the franchise’s plans.

Anthony has made comments this offseason indicating that a return to NYC, the city he was born in, could be in the plans. Then again, a Boston Celtics signing of Melo is ‘gaining traction’ and Tatum’s recent social media activity certainly supports the idea that the 10x All-Star and 2x All-NBA Second-Teamer could be Beantown-bound.

Bailey made the case for why the Cs need Melo, and for why Anthony could thrive on a team with the defensive identity Ime Udoka has forged in Boston:

"“Melo may be four years older than Gallo, but his 2021-22 production was comparable. And if there’s a team in the league that’s well-equipped to cover for Anthony’s defensive shortcomings, it’s the Boston Celtics. Gallinari was signed to improve spacing and perhaps spare Al Horford’s legs from time to time. For at least a year, Anthony could potentially do the same.”"

Boston Celtics beat writer doesn’t feel interest in Carmelo Anthony is very strong

Mark Murphy poured ice cold water on the idea that the Boston Celtics highly covet Carmelo Anthony, saying that he doesn’t think they are ‘all that interested’ in signing the 38-year-old before training camp.

Murphy added that he doesn’t believe the team was in on Montrezl Harrell either, saying that he thinks ‘what it comes down to is that they don’t want to sacrifice their defensive principles.’ Harrell recently signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

What it’ll likely come down to is whether or not the team trusts Sam Hauser to take over the minutes lost by the Danilo Gallinari injury. If they do, Anthony will likely have to phone home and call the New York Knicks or join a Chicago Bulls team that was after him heavily in the summer of 2014 before former Knicks President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson re-signed him and proceeded to bash him incessantly in the years that followed.