Carmelo Anthony Returns To The Northwest Division And Everything’s Terrible

The New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder have come to terms on a trade that will send Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and Chicago’s 2018 2nd rounder. Carmelo Anthony is now the 4th Eastern Conference All-Star Forward to make his way to the Eastern Conference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder now boast a lineup that is heavy on scoring, light on depth, but exploding with excitement. This is just another blow to Utah’s 2017-2018 playoff hopes. The Northwest Division now has Jimmy Butler, Paul Millsap, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony to deal with on the perimeter.

In Utah this will inevitably mean more time for Thabo Sefolosha on the perimeter as the Utah Jazz—now without Gordon Hayward—will have to scramble for a potent defender and offensive punch from the Small Forward position. Joe Johnson might be able to fill in, but there’s a good chance he’ll be the backup Power Forward for Utah to spell relief for Derrick Favors.

Just for memories sake, here are all the new additions to the Northwest division and their career averages vs Utah:

Carmelo Anthony - 25.3 ppg 5.6 rpg 2.9 apg

Paul George - 20.4 ppg 6.1 rpg 2.6 apg

Jimmy Butler - 13.7 ppg 5.3 rpg 3.3 apg

Paul Millsap - 19.1ppg 9.1 rpg 2.5 apg

Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook on the same team are going to be a nightmare to guard. The gauntlet of the Western Conference just because more fierce.