NBA Rumors: Teams Are Turned Off By Carmelo Anthony's Poor Defensive Capability

Carmelo Anthony remains a free agent and no NBA team has taken a chance. Several league personalities believe he can still play but at a certain capacity. However, there are new concerns by teams on the 35-year-old star. This has to do with his ability to play good defense.

With most teams emphasizing defense, concern on how Anthony can do so has cropped up. While there is no question that he can shoot, some feel he is a step behind when it comes to defending. It should be noted that this is if he is taken in even as a bench player. Either way, most teams want players who can shoot and defend well, ESPN reported.

Unnamed sources revealed that some front-office executives are concerned about this aspect. They singled out how most teams have embraced the three-point revolution. Hence, even if a team can shoot from downtown, shutting opponents on the defensive end is a concern. Some feel that this is one lacking part of Anthony's game.

Pundits point out Anthony's sting back in 2017 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Yahoo Sports reported. In the playoffs, the 2013 NBA Scoring Champion had trouble fighting through picks. A good example was when the Thunder faced the Utah Jazz. In the end, the Thunder were 29.4 points per 100 possessions better when Anthony sat vs. when he played.

That eventually led to Anthony being benched most of the time. Defense does win games and apparently the third overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft is poor at it. Even if he does get a bench role, his inability to shut down his assignment makes him a liability. At his age, it remains to be seen if Melo can do something to improve his defensive awareness.

There are exceptions for teams who can make up for it in a different way. But the problem is that Anthony's options may have dwindled further. His offensive gift is something any team would want. However, the modern strategy of NBA teams is quite clear. Poor defense lowers the risk of winning games. In Melo's case, it is also lowering his chances of getting signed up.