Sources: Carmelo Anthony won't make Trail Blazers debut before Tuesday

Carmelo Anthony isn't expected to make his Portland Trail Blazers debut until Tuesday's game at New Orleans at the earliest, league sources told ESPN on Friday, meaning Anthony won't be available to face his former team, the Houston Rockets, on Monday.

Anthony, 35, has to complete a physical with the Blazers before the one-year, non-guaranteed contract is finalized. That could come as soon as Saturday, league sources said.

The Blazers are starting a six-game road trip that includes a game Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs before Monday's game in Houston.

Beset by frontcourt injuries, including to power forward Zach Collins and center Jusuf Nurkic, Portland has struggled to a 4-8 start this season. The Blazers reached the Western Conference finals a season ago.

The Blazers are hopeful that Anthony can bring an immediate presence to a locker room that needs a jolt. Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, hasn't played since a 10-game run with the Rockets that ended early in the 2018-2019 season.