NBA: Anthony is shipped to Hawks, will be waived

Carmelo Anthony’s time in Oklahoma City is finished.

A person with knowledge of the details told the Associated Press that the Oklahoma City Thunder are sending Anthony and a 2022 protected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala. Anthony will be waived by the Hawks, clearing the way for him to sign as a free agent elsewhere. The person spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

ESPN, which first reported the trade, said the Thunder will send Muscala to the Philadelphia 76ers for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Philadelphia’s Justin Anderson will be sent to Atlanta.

Schroder, a speedy 6-foot-1 guard, averaged a career-high 19.4 points last season for the Hawks in 67 games, all starts.

Anthony’s lone season in Oklahoma City was largely a bust. He averaged 16.2 points and struggled at times in his new role alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George. The 10-time All-Star posted career lows in scoring average and field-goal percentage, and the Thunder were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Utah Jazz.

The 34-year-old Anthony had been the headliner his entire career — he’s 19th in NBA history with 25,417 points — but he was more of a catch-and-shoot scorer last season instead of the isolation specialist he had always been and his playing time dwindled in the playoffs. In Game 6 of the first-round series against the Jazz that ended Oklahoma City’s season, he played fewer minutes than reserve Jerami Grant.

After the season, Anthony said that he prefers to play with the ball in his hands more and said being utilized as a reserve was “out of the question.”

Anthony opted in earlier this summer to accept the $28 million he was due next season.

Etc.

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