While awaiting to clear waivers, Carmelo Anthony admits he never really fit in with the Thunder last season, Jemele Hill of ESPN’s The Undefeated reports.
Developing chemistry with Russell Westbrook, Paul George and his other Oklahoma City teammates proved to be a difficult task for Anthony. Following a disappointing postseason in which he averaged 11.8 PPG and 21.4% from long range, Anthony publicly complained about his role.
The Thunder managed to trade his contract to the Hawks, a transaction that was made official on Wednesday. He’s expected to join the Rockets once Atlanta officially places him on waivers and he clears that process.
Anthony claims OKC didn’t do enough to help him make the transition after the Knicks dealt him.
“I think last year — and I haven’t talked about this before — everything was just so rushed, going to the team for media day and the day before training camp. Them guys already had something in place, and then I come along in the 25th hour like … Melo just come on and join us,” he told Hill. “Like, you can figure it out since you’ve been around the game for a long time. That’s why it was so inconsistent. At times, I had to figure it out on my own rather than somebody over there or people over there helping me.”
Anthony isn’t comfortable with the notion of getting waived but his family convinced him that he was better off going through the process to get into a better situation. He also had to waive his no-trade clause to make it happen.
“I had a conversation with my wife and family. I said to them, I’m not taking no buyout. I’m not getting waived. And they said, at the end of the day, nobody is going to know that,” he said. “You have to do what you have to do. It’s going to be a blip on your radar. It’s on to the next chapter. It took me a while to get to that point where I’m like, OK, I’m going to accept it.”
Anthony wouldn’t confirm he’ll join forces with Chris Paul and James Harden and reunite with former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni but he hinted at it.
“I think everything is trying to get cleared right now. I’ll let the people do what they do,”he said. “I just sit back and when the time comes, and the call gets made, we’ll make that move.”
No duh you didn’t fit
Well said
He ain’t wrong, it’s an iso system with 2 vastly superior wing players. However if he would have amenable to coming off the bench…….
And an ISO system is exactly his game. He just sucked last year and was no longer the ‘main’ guy on the team like he has in the past.
Quote ”Like you can figure it out since you been in the game so long. At times I had to figure it out on my own rather than somebody over there or people over there helping me” Ahhh, Yes Melo an All Star such as yourself who pretends to be HOF caliber should be able to figure it out on his own. You’re only going to play a certain way, in a certain style and all else be damned. ”You aint making no bench role sacrifice. You aint taking no buy out. You aint getting waived. Whatever, you got your cash enjoy it. More trouble than he is worth. OKC got lucky to get rid of him
Melo = cancer
If he hated the fit so much why did he opt in?
No way his agent or any of the union would approve of him taking less money.
It’s all about dah monies, he didn’t fit in because his skills have fallen off a cliff and no ones going to pass him dah ball to be the one that shoots the most every game
Money was more important than fit, let’s not get that twisted. Irrespective of how out of place he was, dollars convinced him to look past it and opt in. No surprise, he knew he wasn’t getting anywhere near that on the open market because he simply isn’t worth it.
Secondly, I’m not surprised he didn’t fit. A system usually requires people to pass the ball – something Melo can’t bring himself to do.
Sorry dude, but a poor D, ISO shooter on the downside of his career, isn’t a hot commodity.
You got your cash, and everyone else had what they already knew validated – that Melo is a one trick pony.
He was an overpaid ball hog in NY, and an overpaid ball hog in OKC.
True he had to be a Klay Thompson on that team and do nothing but shoot. On the Rockets he’ll get a lot of opportunities on the elbow and be able to be a third isolation option behind Paul and Harden.
Klay is a lock down defender way more than just a shooter.
Yea but Melo couldn’t do much but shoot in Donovan’s offense, plus Westbrook is way more of a scorer than Paul is so Melo will get a lot more shots on the Rockets. I think he’ll easily average 19-21 ppg this coming season.
Harden ain’t gonna let that happen, he will be lucky to get double digit minutes played per game. He’s toast
Harden wanted Melo to come over. Paul will have really good chemistry with Melo, between Melo,Paul, and Harden you have three highly skilled offensive players who can go off for 20-50 points any given night. Melo will flourish on the Rockets, the Rockets lacked a go to scoring option in the post and now they have one in Melo since Capela can only score off lobs and dump ins.
I’m here to see what kind of ish dionis is spouting.
I would love to give you $100 for every game that he gets 20 shots and you give me $1000 in every game that he takes less than 20. Dionis forecasts are useless.
I don’t wanna make excuses but………
I didn’t wanna take a buyout but……..
I wanted to fit in but……………
give it a rest please!!!!
He certainly is a whiner.
There is no good fit
Ok. So, Melo’s set to “EARN” (HAHA!!LOL!!) basically $28 MILLION. $27.9 million. WTF??? And WHAT DID HE DO to EARN THIS?? Has he: ever WON A RING? WON MVP? Done ANYTHING to help his teams WIN? Maybe in Denver. In NYC? Good, NOT GREAT PLAY. Why do NBA owners “reward” potential instead of productivity? Lebron? Yeah, I’d say he was worth the cheese. 3 rings, sure. Can contribute to helping the Lakers win another ring. D-Wade? 3 rings, sure, he can help. Durant, Curry, Klay T, Dray Green….the WINNERS of the league. Irving. Sheet, even K Love, IMO, deserves the cheese he’s gonna get in Cleveland. These guys bring it! Melo? Cancer to a team. I think the Hawks should say, F it, YOU STAY MELO!! F your buyout. Play out your last year of your overbloated, obnoxious contract. Team up w/ old Vince Carter, J Lin, the youngin’s, and get it done. Take us to the playoffs IF you can. Justify this ridiculous $28 million pay. Just my .02…
The hawks wouldn’t win 15 games with Melo leading the charge. I HOPE it worked that way where ATL made him stay and play. Instead he’ll get his money doing nothing
That would be Justice! Make him play his final non-league minimum contract in Atlanta.
Melon has been a loser since he left Denver. Me first shooter and no defense
Because Carmelo is trash! How any team wants him is beyond me
Wow man never seen so much hatred for anyone, poor Melo is a free for all hating him, he has been a great player & still is good, more than capable, in season 15 doing his worst season ever by far still clocks 16/6, many players will never do that, anyway a lot of hate. By the way he has earned every penny of those 28MM, they gave him the contract he didn’t force the Knicks to do it, is always the same when players are around 30 you give them a big & long contract by the end they will not be able to live by it, but that is how it goes, CP3 deserves his contract but by the end won’t live up to it, but that is ok, same was with Kobe & many others. Sooo much hate man.
I just watched the Jazz Thunder series again to remind myself of the situation and player we’re talking about. The three things that stand out about Anthony’s situation and fit:
1. Every time he catches the ball he’s looking to shoot; passing looks to be a last resort, and he doesn’t move after passing.
2. He is getting smoked by everyone on the other side of the ball. He can’t stay in front of his man. He also makes very little effort to get back on D after a missed shot.
3. When benched he is rolling his eyes, failing to cheer for his teammates and generally disinterested in the coaches’ instructions.
The series ends after a close game and Melo chucks a 3 up two seconds after the final buzzer. That’s emblematic of his OKC experience… Disinterested… No emotional commitment… Not there with his teammates. Most players stop dead at the final buzzer, especially when on the losing end. To take two dribbles and shoot a brick was the perfect ending to this tragic comedy.
We’re witnessing a man on the decline unaware of it himself. Sad.
He’s surely just going to be the new Joe Johnson in the Rockets’ rotation.
Interested to see how it all plays out.
Another quote from a Pissed-off Smelo ” I know how to play this game of basketball” Really!! He knows how to play his way but nobody plays that WAY anymore. It didn’t work because he was rushed!..LOL…The new NBA if it doesn’t work just throw it out. His failure is due to the new norm in NBA basketball. Now a pissed-off Smelo is going to play hard and he will show us it Ain’t about the cash! How about showing us and keeping mouth shut until you get out of the second round of playoffs at the very least. He looked terrible against Utah, they trashed him. He goes on ” when I’m ready to take that role, i will take that role. Only I know when it’s best for me to take that role. I’m not going to do that in a situation where i know my capabilities and what I can do” Well Smelo when you play for vet minimum your coach can decide when you’re ready to take that role & if you don’t it won’t take much to replace. I bet Danotoni made a deal with CP3 that if it doesnt go well Melon is on a short leash. Dantoni has been down Melo Lane before in NY & it didnt go well. ISO play has gone away when will he see the light? answer He won’t
I can’t really see a team which would be a ‘good fit’. At least not where Melo is any kind of featured player in the offense. Is he happy being the guy on a team that is tanking?
He doesn’t fit in the NBA period. He leaves his teams in chaos and is a true ball stopper. He gives up too much on the defensive end
Melo didn’t fit the OKC jersey because he is over weight! He will insist on starting and he/d’antoni will have a blow out before christmas. Grab some bench Melo! Take the Rockets under for seasons wins! Forget these useless predictions/forecasts….make some money!!!
Volume shooters, who don’t move the ball or defend, are rarely good fits on any team unless they’re the first option.
He will be a distraction in Houston just like a Cousins will be at Golden State