Could an offseason scrimmage with the Knicks signal Carmelo Anthony’s return to the orange and blue?

A familiar face will reportedly be joining the Knicks at their informal five-on-five scrimmages at Columbia University Thursday morning.

Carmelo Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and certified bucket-getter, will be joining the Knicks in their scrimmages at Columbia, first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fleischer and later confirmed by SNY’s Ian Begley and Newsday‘s Steve Popper.

NBA rules allow for teams to sign 20 players for the offseason into training camp. They have until the day before the regular season starts (Monday, October 21st) to trim the roster down to 15. A pair of two-way contracts count toward the 20 offseason players, but not the final roster (effectively extending the roster size to 17).

For now, though, Anthony, the 2012–13 scoring champion, is (kind of) back home. Anthony last suited up for the Knicks on April 12th, 2017. He was traded five months later to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and the Chicago Bulls’ 2018 second-round pick (which was used to select Mitchell Robinson).

The Knicks were interested in bringing ‘Melo back, though, if they had signed star free agents, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

While many Knicks fans are dying to see Carmelo back in the orange and blue, don’t hold your breath. The Knicks already have 15 guaranteed contracts for the upcoming season and both two-way contract slots filled. The Knicks aren’t bringing Anthony to the main roster, per the New York Post‘s Marc Berman.

In addition to Anthony, Hasheem Thabeet, a former number-two overall pick standing 7’3″, will also reportedly be scrimmaging with the Knicks. Thabeet was a top pick the 2009 draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. He played one and a half seasons there before spending time with the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Thabeet hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2013–14 season, but has attempted to come back to the league. He can be seen in the picture below towering over everyone.

Still, Anthony joining scrimmages today is the main headline. Anthony’s last NBA stint ended in November of 2018 when the Houston Rockets cut him after just 10 games, and fans are eagerly awaiting his return to the court.

UPDATE: 6:52 p.m. EST.

Begley adds Lance Thomas, waived by the Knicks in the offseason, also participated in informal scrimmages with Anthony, Thabeet, and the team.

 

 

Related Content

»READ: Knicks had considered bringing back Carmelo Anthony

»READ: Summer League standout Kenny Wooten invited to Knicks training camp

»READ: Knicks bringing Summer League’s Lamar Peters back on non-guaranteed deal