Carmelo Anthony: The Top 10 Ideal Teammates for Anthony
Players like Carmelo Anthony are rare in NBA history. Anthony has an ability to score the basketball that very few players can match. In seven seasons in the NBA, Anthony has become one of the most potent scoring machines in the league. His ability to score, though, has not taken him far in the playoffs.
After an interesting offseason for Anthony that started with reluctance towards signing a three-year contract with the Nuggets, Anthony might soon be among new teammates. Speculation is the only thing that fans can rely on to who Anthony might end up playing with in the near future.
Although Anthony is capable of thriving in any system he can possibly join, which teammates would actually make him a better overall player? Take a look at a few names that might make Anthony’s life in a new uniform just a little bit better than in Denver.
Note: For the sake of realism, only teams that are in position of making a move for Anthony were considered on this list.
10. David Lee
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As a jump shooter, David Lee is one of the new generation big men that are able to knock down shots from 15 to 20 feet out on the court. Like other players on this list, Lee is able to stretch defenses and allow players like Carmelo Anthony to have an easier time getting to the paint.
But that is not the main reason why Lee is on this list. Lee is also an underrated passer that is able to find players cutting to the lane and deliver the ball on the spot.
Although Lee and Anthony would play very efficiently on the offensive end, both men are known for being less than average defenders. Having Anthony at the 3 spot and Lee at the 4 will enable opposing teams to do plenty of damage in the paint and off the dribble. In the NBA, some of the biggest scorers are at the three and four spots.
9. Amar'e Stoudemire
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Most of his career, Stoudemire has been playing out of position. A natural power forward, Amar'e has often found himself playing the center position. Although he does most of his damage down low, he is not a player that clogs the lane by any means.
Anthony and Stoudemire are both able to take their man off the dribble and attack the basket with extreme force. Having a one-two punch like that in one team would be a luxury and would keep defenses guessing in every single possession
Like David Lee, Stoudemire is not known for his defense and often considered a lazy defender. A player like that would not mesh well defensively with Anthony. But in a system like the New York Knicks, where loads of offense is their only defense, it might just be a good fit.
8. Stephen Curry
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This might be a bit of a surprise. Stephen Curry will only be a sophomore next season, but he has shown the ability to make players around him better.
By having the ball in his hands, and often demanding double teams in the perimeter, Curry would have the chance to find a player like Anthony attaching the basket or coming off screens. Last year in Golden State, Corey Maggette was able to have an amazing season thanks to Curry.
Considering Carmelo Anthony a better version of Maggette, one can only begin to think the damage both men can do together.
7. Baron Davis
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Although Baron Davis has shown signs of slowing down in the last few seasons, he is still one of the most impressive point guards in the league. When motivated, Davis is among the top in the NBA. But that has been a problem with Davis lately.
With a trade sending Carmelo to the Clippers, it might just give Davis enough motivation to take his game back to all-star caliber. Once that happens, he can lead the offense alongside one of the best scorers in the league in Anthony.
What separates Davis from other point guards is the leadership on the court and his strength to create match-up problems the same way Anthony does. Both men are bullies at their positions.
6. Troy Murphy
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Once again, here is another big man that can shoot the rock from the outside. Troy Murphy adds an extra weapon to the mix, and that is his three point shot.
Murphy’s defense though, leaves a lot to desire. He is in the same group as David Lee and Amare Stoudemire. Regardless, he does make up for some of that by being a beast on the defensive glass. With a coach like Avery Johnson, Murphy should become a slightly better defender next season and become a slightly better fit for Anthony.
5. Luis Scola
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Luis Scola brings a new weapon to the table that other power forwards on this list lack, and that is defense. Scola is not a flashy defender, but he is definitely a smart one. He understand when to take the charge and when to contest a shot.
He would provide excellent defense next to Carmelo at the forward spots, but at the same time still provide scoring in the post and stretching the defense away from the paint with his mid-range shot efficiency.
Not only will Scola help Carmelo on the court, he would also help him off the court as well. With all the experience both in the NBA as well as internationally, Scola will help Carmelo develop a better low post game and teach him a few tricks defensively.
4. Carlos Boozer
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You can probably see the pattern by now. Carlos Boozer is yet another volume scorer power forward that is able to stretch the defense with his mid-range jumpers but also take the ball inside with force.
Carlos does edge out other players on this list because of his good passing skills specially off the low post. Perhaps taking a few lessons from Deron Williams, Boozer has developed into a very underrated passer through the years. Time and time again cutting teammates have found a hand-off pass from Boozer leading to a score.
Another ability that separates Boozer from other players playing the same position on this list is his above average defender. Although no defensive specialist, he is able to contain most big men in the league and punish them on the other end of the floor.
3. Dirk Nowitzki
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After the last few picks, this was probably easy to predict.
It is hard to find a player in the NBA who would not benefit from player alongside Dirk Nowitzki. Anthony is no exception. Although Anthony is known for his ability to consistently make mid-range jumpers, he is most effective taking his man off the dribble and to the rim.
In Denver, Anthony has shown he can be a force down low, but Denver’s lack of size in the post allows the opponents defense to focus on Anthony down low. With a teammate like Dirk, Anthony would benefit from weaker defense in the middle due to Dirk’s ability to knock down long range shots. That way, Anthony would be able to bully small forwards down in the post and score more efficiently.
The Dallas Mavericks might not be pursuing Anthony in a trade scenario but recent comments by Mark Cuban have sparked discussions about whether the all-star forward could join the Mavs and how the Nuggets should consider it.
2. Brooke Lopez
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Perhaps it is time to end the power forward streak. What better way to do so than with a center that is able to play both positions with impressive efficiency.
Brooke Lopez is one of the best young centers in the league both offensively and defensively. He is able to shoot from the outside up to about 18 feet and is also able to finish inside efficiently. On the defensive end, he is able to guard big centers with his length but is also able to guard faster forwards with his quick feet and athleticism.
He is everything Carmelo Anthony could want from a big man and more. With such a teammate they can make each other better night in and night out on both ends of the court.
1. Derrick Rose
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Although Carmelo Anthony established himself as one of the best offensive players in the league and as a franchise player, he has not established himself as a playmaker. Most of Anthony’s plays are one-on-one and rarely involve another teammate other than a screener.
Because of this, Anthony will forever need an effective point guard to play alongside with. Anthony’s most success has come next to Chauncey Billups. Without him last season, his team went 3-6. Billups is the perfect fit for Carmelo since he is a very smart passer but is also able to score from anywhere on the floor and attract defenders for a kick-out pass. That is exactly what Derrick Rose can do for Carmelo.
Derrick Rose is like Billups in many ways. Although he does not possess a pure shot like Billups, he makes up for it with better explosiveness and athleticism. With Rose’s jumper developing, he can one day demand double teams out on the perimeter as well therefore benefiting Anthony with his style of play even more.
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