It has been more than two months since Carmelo Anthony appeared in an NBA game, fueling speculation that his long career may be coming to an end. However, two sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic that Anthony has “multiple” options available to him and is expected to pick one before next month’s trade deadline.
According to Amick, it’s not clear whether these options would involve a trade – since Anthony is still technically on the Rockets‘ roster – or whether he’d be released and subsequently signed by a new club. Either way, there are “strong signs” that he’ll resume his NBA career at some point this season, Amick writes.
LeBron James has expressed some interest in bringing his good friend to Los Angeles, and the Lakers have been the team most frequently linked to Anthony, as Amick notes. But the fact that L.A has a full roster is “no small obstacle,” a team source tells Amick. It’s unclear whether the Lakers would be willing to replace any of their current players with Carmelo, particularly since there are questions about the the 34-year-old’s conditioning and overall game.
Anthony has seen his production slip over the last two seasons in Oklahoma City and Houston. Although the veteran forward averaged a career-high 6.4 three-point attempts during his 10 games with the Rockets, he still displayed an affinity for deep two-point shots, and has been a liability on defense. Carmelo’s on/off-court statistics have reflected his struggles, as Houston had a -9.0 net rating in his minutes this season.
As we wait to see where Anthony ends up, it’s worth noting that the Rockets would certainly prefer to trade him rather than release him outright, since doing so would take the team off the hook for the tax penalties associated with his $1.51MM cap hit.
A team with interest in Anthony might not mind trading for him, as long as that club isn’t also a taxpayer, since the Rockets have already paid over half of his 2018/19 salary — the financial commitment for a team acquiring him would essentially be the same as signing him to a new minimum-salary free agent contract.
Is it just because people feel sorry for him? He doesn’t bring much to the table at this point.
Melo for Frank Kaminsky straight up. Houston adds center depth with the Capela injury. Charlotte adds a scorer who can either start or come off bench as 6th man.
If they manage to trade Carmelo (which is by no means warranted), the Rockets are surely getting absolutely nothing in return.
Charlotte has no need for FK and has been looking to get rid of him because they don’t want to have to pay him
By taking Carmelo, Charlotte would be already doing the Rockets a favour, so they wouldn’t be sending anything valuable in return… and Kaminsky’s expiring contract does have some trade value. Even if they don’t manage to include Kaminsky in any other trade, it would be better to keep him in the roster (there could always be some injury that opens playing time for him) than just to give him away.
The issue is Houston wouldn’t want to take a contract back because it’s trying to avoid further luxury tax penalties. The only thing I could see Houston getting back is a highly protected second round pick (e.g., if Charlotte doesn’t make the playoffs, Houston wouldn’t get the pick this year).
If CHAR trades Kaminsky, they can’t trade MKGilchrist too. Kaminsky is okay as a Williams backup (16PER) & he only gets paid a small amount for another half year.
Their problem is 5 guys making over $13MM through next year too and none of them are named Kemba or have much trade value except Gilchrist IMO. (C.Zeller keeps getting injured.)
They have to do something for Walker money… if that’s what they want.
come back to the Knicks
Per 36 Rank (not qualified) PPG – Melo 161st, Amir Johnson 234th, Muscala 329th, W. Chandler 428th.
You’re getting him to score buckets. That’s it. Instant offense, you don’t have to run a single play for him b/c he’s an ISO guy and one of the best at getting his shot inside the 3pt line.
Laughable that people expecting him to be this 3-D guy, he was never a defensive guy, never a stellar 3 point shooter. He was a guy that could score flat out though. And he’ll cost a team practically nothing. If Houston said “yes” I’d ship Amir for him today straight up. Give him 20 minutes a game, let him ball out on the 2nd unit.
Pretty sure he’d also appreciate playing near home.
I don’t know how much sense he makes for the Sixers. The pieces they need are 3 point shooting and PF.
They need an actual starting 4 or a competent back-up 5, and a wing defender. But beggars can’t be choosers.
ZBO or Dedmon buyout
Stanley Johnson for a 2nd rounder & Muscala.
That would fix some of the issues they’ve got.
Actually I think the Sixers would make a lot of sense. On the one hand, they are a strong defensive team, so they could compensate for Carmelo’s negative impact on the defensive end. On the other, at this point in his career, Carmelo is most effective as a post player than as a SF. The main problem is that there is no hint that Carmelo is eager to accept a secondary role. All we have seen this far suggests he still believes he’s a star and this is why no many teams are willing to take a shot with him.
They also need another closer. Jimmy is the only one that can create his own shot. Embiid Simmons n Redick are limited.
He’s a minimum contract, so no player needs to come back to Houston in a trade; and Houston certainly wouldn’t insist upon a return player to do the deal. A team just needs an open roster spot, and a willingness to deal with the Melo-drama, and they can have him.
Would need to see an updated list of teams with open spots. Sixers filled theirs w Brewer for another week.
The Wiz, who I consider a perfect match for Melo, but they are looking at luxury tax too. Any team with a 10 day contract, in effect, has one in less than 10 days.
They need high energy guys who move without the ball/ can knock down shots and d up. Melo just stands around and moves side to side like Jared Dudley so I don’t see how he’d help
is that a team in china?
Saw Carmello on 5th Avenue last night with Clark and some Zero as they stared up at the Milky Way with a Snicker.
3-team deal with Houston, LA and Orlando.
Houston gets KCP (LA) and Simmons (Orlando)
LA gets Vucekic (Orlando) and Melo (Houston)
Orlando gets Ingram (LA), Zubac (LA), and Knight (Houston).
Throw in some picks and call it a day.
Nice framework. HOU owes ORL a pick but IRL, I think ORL says no anyway due to conservatism, and LAL says no because they need Ingram to get A.Davis.
Orlando would be good for Ingram, but that doesn’t motivate LAL.
I seriously doubt AD heads to LA without costing an arm and a leg. Vucekic went to USC, solid big and doesn’t need the ball in his hands. I can see NO trading AD next year and at that point, LBJ only has 2.5 years left. Win now mode.
I assume you’re conceding this year to the allstar 5 north on rt 5…