Can Carmelo Anthony help the Portland Trail Blazers shake off a slow start to the 2019-20 season?
Having fallen to 13th in the Western Conference at 4-8 after reaching the conference finals last season, the Blazers are in need of help -- particularly at power forward, where on Wednesday rookie Nassir Little became the third player to start in the nine games since Zach Collins was lost to shoulder surgery, which is expected to sideline him the bulk of the regular season.
To help fill that void, Portland turned to a famous name in Anthony, whose most recent NBA action came almost exactly a year ago before the Houston Rockets exiled him in anticipation of an eventual trade. Melo has publicly longed for the chance to extend his career and go out on his terms. Will he prove a better fit with the Blazers than in previous stops in Houston and Oklahoma City?
There are cases both for and against Anthony's fit in Portland. Let's run them down.