Thunder Trade Carmelo Anthony to the Atlanta Hawks
OKC and the Hawks agree to exchange forward Carmelo Anthony for Dennis Schroder in package deal; Mike Muscala to the 76ers.
The Oklahoma City Thunder having been trying to unload Carmelo Anthony for the last few weeks and the Atlanta Hawks have loaded themselves at point guard with the acquisition of Jeremy Lin, 2018 first-round pick Trae Young and incumbent starting point guard Dennis Schroder; the 76ers also needed a stretch four after Nemanja Bjelica backed out of deal with Philadelphia.
So with all that in mind, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped another Woj bomb:
Oklahoma City has agreed to trade Carmelo Anthony and a protected 2022 first-round pick to Atlanta for point guard Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala, league sources tell ESPN. Anthony will be waived, and he will join team of his choice. Rockets are frontrunner.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 19, 2018
Sources: Muscala ($5M) is likely headed for a third team in near future. OKC GM Sam Presti and coach Billy Donovan were given permission to talk with Schroder, and they're enthusiastic about partnership. OKC wants more speed, another ball handler. https://t.co/VibPPXzlBW
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 19, 2018
In addition to Anthony, the Thunder will send a 2022 first-round pick to Atlanta.
The pick the Thunder are sending the Hawks is 2022 lottery protected first rounder (1-14). If it doesn’t convey, it’ll become two second rounders.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) July 19, 2018
Once Anthony is waived by the Hawks, he will be able to be signed by any team. The front runners for Anthony are the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat, seeing as he meet with both teams with the permission of OKC during the Summer League.
By accepting trade Atlanta will pay Anthony’s salary, but will have to take on Schroder’s $15.5 million a year for the next three years. Well, why would the Thunder in crease the financial burden? Schroder will be a quality back up to Russell Westbrook. Schroder is younger, 24, and can offer more to the team than veteran guard Raymond Felton, 34. There is a probability that the former Atlanta guard will not be there the entire three years with a felony charge.
Oklahoma also got Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot; he will play the position of three and defense type of role.
Video Courtesy: ESPN