OKLAHOMA CITY -- If Carmelo Anthony returns to the Oklahoma City Thunder next season -- and that sounds like a bigger "if" than previously thought after his exit interview Saturday -- it will not be in a bench role.
"Yeah, I'm not sacrificing no bench role," Anthony said. "That's out of the question."
Anthony's answer was consistent with the way he felt on his first day with the Thunder, famously saying "Who, me?" when asked about moving to the second unit, and asking Paul George as he walked by, "Hey, P! They want me to come off the bench!"
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Anthony is owed $28 million on the final year of his contract, but he can opt out with an early termination clause. The expectation from nearly everyone around the league was that Anthony would opt in to the final year and remain with the Thunder. (He also maintains his no-trade clause.) But while declining to talk specifics about financials, Anthony said he's going to have to weigh his basketball happiness with whatever he decides.