Carmelo Anthony‘s path to the Rockets now seems clear after an agreement was reached this week on a three-team trade that will send him to the Hawks, who will buy him out. Once that process plays out and Anthony clears waivers, he will be free to sign with anybody, but it’s a poorly kept secret that he plans to head to Houston.
There’s a lot to be figured out about what Anthony’s role will be with the Rockets, but he didn’t exactly excel as a third option in Oklahoma City. His playing time dropped to a career-low 32.1 minutes per game last season and his scoring average fell bellow 20 PPG for the first time since he entered the NBA in 2003.
After winning 65 games and reaching the Western Conference finals, Houston suffered a couple of key personnel losses. Trevor Ariza signed with the Suns on the first night of free agency, and Luc Mbah a Moute left for the Clippers soon afterward. That’s a loss of two defensive specialists who match up very well with the Warriors, while Anthony represents a question mark on both counts.
There have been whispers that the Rockets may be considering a sixth-man spot for Anthony, with defensive-minded free agent addition James Ennis taking Ariza’s spot in the starting lineup. Chris Paul, one of Anthony’s close friends, may be able to sell him on the idea, but his response when asked about a similar role with the Thunder isn’t encouraging.
“I’m not sacrificing no bench role,” he told ESPN’s Royce Young in April. “So that’s out of the question.” (Twitter link).
Anthony brings extra firepower to a Rockets offense that is already loaded. As several observers have noted, he is most effective when playing with elite passers — as he has done on the Olympic team — and he’ll have those in Houston with Paul and James Harden. However, the move from Ariza to Anthony won’t be a seamless switch. They are very different types of players, and many writers are predicting a greater gap between the Warriors and Rockets with Anthony on board.
We want to get your prediction. Will a move to Houston bring out the best in Anthony’s game, or will he be a distraction on offense and a liability on defense? Please leave your answers in the space below.
Carmelo gets his wish a year later than he wanted. What will the Rockets do with Ryan Anderson? ESPN says Lakers shouldn’t expect much from Luol Deng. He’s semi retired.
Deng has been semi retired for several years now.
He was semi retired the day he signed that Lakers contract
He really makes no difference. Just a guy/player.
Melo is to old and his game don’t translate anymore he isn’t a good 3rd option either rapaport had some good points about him if it was a USA team he played much better but he’s cooked yo
Melo is one of the best still. You guys are so quick to throw someone under the bus over a couple of season. lol. But if he wants a ring his best bet is to take the Andre Iguodala role for the Rockets. Andre produces more for the team than he did as a starter even though he looks like he can still play the starting role, he probably wouldn’t have gotten MVP. Thus Melo should consider it. It might damn well change alot of opinions about him.
Ahhh….NO
Anthony is on record saying he won’t come off the bench, and on record saying he will return to the ISO / no defense style that made him a lot of money.
His ISO won’t fly, but in three of the last four seasons he’s shot the 3 above league average clip, and is in the top 25th percentile on catch and shoot triples. There is still value in Melo.
That said, If playing with his closest friend and another great passer in Harden doesn’t sway him to accept a 3rd option role as a shooter and occasional post up player, then he is pretty much done in the NBA after this season.
It didn’t take long for AI to be done when he wouldn’t accept a 2nd option or 6th man role in Denver or Detroit, and Melo will follow suit.
I think Melo will be better in Houston. Chris Paul and James Harden game fits him better as facilitators.
Quote ” I’m not sacrificing no bench role. So that’s out of the question” C. Melo ……With an All Star attitude like that, will he be an asset on the bench if he has to be on it? CP#3 will have to baby sit because Melo & Dantoni aren’t BFF y any means. Houston can use the help after losing Ariza but Melo is No Defense and if they play GSW in playoff he will be an anchor like Ryan Anderson seems to be for them only cheaper. His catch & shoot stats were bad for OKC this year and the ball just stops dead in his hands.
Sad seeing a once good player during their diminishing years. Especially when they can’t front the obvious and inevitable. He could be an asset at the end of the bench like Channing Frye. But Frye comes off the bench with a smile on his face, attempts to play some D and can knock down a couple 3s. But Melo won’t accept that. He sadly still thinks he’s relevant.
But on the other hand he was absurdly overrated his entire career he enjoyed all this popularity for 16 years for no reason thanks to which he’ll get in the HoF and while being called the most overrated player in the HoF it will sweeten his last two sour years of his career :)
16pts, 1 assist and 6 rebounds in 32 minutes with all the touches he gets that’s terrible! The Dubs doesn’t need him to bring the rockets down but they surely appreciate this trade :p
He’s never made a positive difference so I don’t know why people expect anything to change. Maybe he’s so embarrassed by last year that he actually improves, but at his age, I doubt it. I see him as an unplayable defensive liability in the playoffs against a team like the Warriors. Even at the veteran’s minimum I think they can find a better use of that roster spot.
I don’t think any contender should be trying to get carmelo. He’s just not a good player anymore, especially with his “of course i’m a starter” attitude. He can’t adjust to what kinda player he is and come off bench. Absolute scare crow on defense and his offense is neither efficient or successful. I love prime melo, but he’s done helping teams win
With Melo, Westbrook, PG13, Roberson,and Adams, I really guessed OKC would contend for the title. I guessed wrong.
Had Roberson not gone down, they might have gone a little further than first round and out (likely second round exit)….but I’m glad melo is gone. Stupid trade to begin with. I’d rather have McDermott and kanter back. Now we have mr felony and the scrub TLC.
Melo would’ve been a much better fit on the Lakers.
I see the Rockets making this work. How many people thought that Paul/Harden would not work before last year? Paul plays a lot with the 2nd unit already, so he is already setting an example that his buddy, Carmelo, could follow. I see a lot of games being broken open at the start of the 2nd and 4th quarters.
If he wanted to average 20+ points again per night, he should be looking at Philly, also a Blade (uber of helicopters) ride away. They desperately need a scorer from the SF. In Houston he will need to pass the rock a bit more to fit in that offense.
It’ll be interesting to see how Melo and Mike D get along for part two if this does happen.
Sadly Melo is a has been at this point in time. He was very good on his day… Can’t see the fit with Houston.
Houston will NOT make the WCF this coming season.
Warriors v Utah