Is Anthony the right fit?
How many ways can it be said? Miami is short on cash. Anthony, who would potentially join the Heat as a free agent after an Oklahoma City Thunder buyout, would almost assuredly take less money than he could make elsewhere.
That’s not to say Anthony’s suitors are vocal. Since his time with the New York Knicks, Anthony has been pegged the problem child, lobbing ultimatums at coaches and front offices like they were hand grenades.
"“Ay, P, they say I gotta come off the bench,” Anthony half-scoffed, half-laughed during the 2017-18 preseason."
A bench role was not a possibility with the Thunder and likely wouldn’t be with the Heat.
Wade made the transition to a smaller role in his return to Miami, though he did so knowing it would best benefit the team he loves. Anthony lacks the same attachment, making the possibility of a copasetic Miami union less than likely.
Even if Anthony checks his attitude at the door, the basketball fit could be difficult.
A 6-foot-8 forward, Anthony’s preference to playing on the wing would displace Miami’s younger, more athletic talent.
Anthony’s proclivity for hearty jab-steps provides him a plodding tool at best, and his catch-and-shoot numbers have an inverse relationship in recent history. In 2016-17, just 29.5 percent of Anthony’s attempts were catch-and-shoots, and he connected on 45 percent of them.
Last season, he buffed his frequency to 42.4 percent of his shots, while hitting on 38.9. Part of that is a function of not meshing with Russell Westbrook, but the other part is a story of settling for low-quality attempts.
Unless he commits to moving without the rock, instead of the stationary pseudo-iso ball game he displayed in Oklahoma, Anthony might find joining Miami too much to bear.
But, as an added bonus, if the NBA ever brings back those nickname uniforms, seeing “Stay Me7o” on the back of a Heat Jersey would be pretty cool.