Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |
The Nets open training camp in 10 days and several Brooklyn players remain fully in favor of the club signing free agent Carmelo Anthony, per SNY sources.
The Nets enter camp with 15 players on guaranteed contracts, which is the maximum regular-season allotment. But there is an avenue for the club to sign Anthony to a traditional NBA deal during the regular season.
Wilson Chandler is suspended for the first 25 games of the season for violating the league's PED policy. After the fifth game of Chandler's suspension, the Nets can move the veteran forward to the inactive list.
This would allow them to add Anthony -- or another player -- to the roster on a traditional NBA deal. Once Chandler's suspension ends, the Nets would have to cut one of their players on a traditional NBA deal in order to keep Anthony in this scenario.
The Nets can also add Anthony on a training camp deal at any point in order for him to participate in camp and preseason games. Brooklyn has 17 players under contract at the moment.
Teams can have up to 20 players in training camp, so Anthony can be added on a training camp deal, waived prior to the regular season, and then re-signed when Chandler is moved to the inactive list.
Of course, this assumes that Nets GM Sean Marks is in favor of signing Anthony. The Nets' interest in signing him is unknown, but the idea that several Nets players continue to strongly support the idea is noteworthy.
The Athletic reported in late August that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were pushing for the club to sign Anthony, who worked out with the Nets in an informal setting in Los Angeles earlier in the offseason. During those workouts, someone in the gym said the 35-year-old Anthony was one of the best players on the court and was well-conditioned.
Anthony, a 10-time All Star, was released by the Houston Rockets after just 10 games last season. He said in an interview on ESPN's "First Take" during the summer that his representation has been in touch with several teams about a potential landing spot, including the Clippers and Lakers.
Anthony participated in informal 5-on-5 games with the Knicks in August, though it remains unlikely that the club signs him. The Knicks currently have 20 players under contract entering training camp and would need to cut a player to add Anthony.
As SNY reported in June, the Knicks may have had interest in a reunion with Anthony if they had a roster with multiple stars, such as Durant and Irving, ready to win immediately.
That didn't come to fruition, as Durant and Irving signed with Brooklyn. So New York didn't have significant interest in bringing Anthony back during free agency.
Something else worth noting with Anthony and the Nets: what happens with Rodions Kurucs, who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend? Kurucs, a forward like Anthony, is due back in court on the matter in late October.