Many NBA executives consider the Rockets the favorite to land Carmelo Anthony, according to Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer (Twitter link).
O’Connor also predicts that Melo will sign with Houston but names the Lakers, Heat, and Sixers as other possibilities. It was previously reported that Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami were expected to have interest in the future Hall-of-Famer.
Anthony’s business manager, Bay Frazier, spent a good portion of the Warriors-Rockets summer league game alongside the Rockets’ brass. Frazier was seen with Chris Paul, owner Tilman Fertitta, player development coach John Lucas II, and head coach Mike D’Antoni, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (Twitter link).
The Rockets were linked to Anthony last summer, having pursued him when the Knicks were looking to make a move. New York wasn’t interested in taking back Ryan Anderson as part of the deal and talks stalled, leading the organization to send Anthony to the Thunder. While Anthony’s latest breakup isn’t yet finalized, a buyout arrangement appears forthcoming, as OKC is unlikely to find a taker on the trade market for his nearly $28MM salary.
The Thunder are facing luxury tax concerns and will be looking to trim as much salary as possible off their books in negotiations. The Rockets have the $5,337MM taxpayer mid-level exception at their disposal and if Anthony can line up an offer with Houston or another club, it may expedite the process of him leaving the Thunder.
Rockets trying to get too cute here. I would think that their sabermetrics would show this would not be a good pickup.
It’s going to dawn upon them Ariza was a bigger loss than they anticipated. Especially after they see how bad Melo is defefensivly
It’s silly to hear people saying he is a bad pickup. He would actually be a strong pickup for Houston for a few reasons. They will have a legit 3rd option as a starter but Houston will need to adjust a little. Give him 7 iso and 7 spot up 3 shots and he will be much better than in OKC where they just wanted him to spot up. 2ndly he isn’t coming at 28 mill so it won’t be hard to part ways if it’s not a good fit so it would be silly not to sign him.
The problem with all that is that he is not good at basketball
stop it.
Stop what?
According to you. Lucky for the rest of us you don’t matter.
Agree, over rated
That’s just stupid, the guy might need to change his attitude but he is still a good offensive player and still give effort on the defensive end.
Depends on what you consider a good offensive player…
Sure he can score 20 a night om 30 shots.. But hes also a ball stopper who destroys any rythem the team had.
Have you watched him play recently? He is not a plus player and if you think he’s going to change his attitude at this stage of his career I’d have to disagree with you
Anthony is going to have to swallow his pride if going to Houston based on the way he ended D’Antoni’s stay with the Knicks. He just doesn’t fit that system and I’m surprised Houston is willing to move forward despite the CP3 connection.
I am wondering about the melo dantoni chemistry …BUT I do think both paul and harden can get him 3-6 easy buckets a game.
With Melo’s attitude (refusing to play from the bench at $27MM), maybe his buddy CP3 can get something out of him. Jeremi Grant playing more minutes than Melo during playoffs is sign he might be too old. After 19 years, you have to give it up sometime. He’s worse than Shaq.
He has only been around 15 years, not 19. Same as LeBron.
Refusing to play from the bench at $27MM , perhaps now at $5.3Mm he will not refuse to play from the bench
Thank god not the lakers lol.
Thank God this move isn’t pending some poor sucker taking on Ryan Anderson and his as bad as anybody in the NBA contract via trade ! It’s so stupid they keep insisting some team take that crap on! Ryan Anderson is and should be a rocket forever
Someone will take him mid season, there’s always a team looking to clear space And Andersuck will only have a year and a half left on his contract so what ever team taking him will stretch his final year over 3 and cut him.
everyone is always speaking in morey we trust when Anderson was just one of many blunders he made .. he outbid himself for Anderson and now they will eat crow with him .. same thing they had to do with scola.
I think if he can check his ego and realize where he’s at now in his career and come off the bench willingly than he can be a contributor to the Rockets..really don’t think people realize how big of a deal it was for the Rockets to lose a player like Ariza. Yea he doesn’t have eye popping numbers but he was a big part of their success last year. Melo can’t play defense but he can score and he would help that team off the bench. As a Lakers fan I’m torn if I’d want him. He’d be taking away mins from the young guys but again I do think he can help them as well off the bench. I feel like his play is similar to Kuzma but Kuzma is better at this point in their careers and has more upside and I don’t want to see him lose mins to Melo. Now if we make a trade for Lillard or Leonard and lose Ingram and Hart than yea let’s get Melo because we then would need him off the bench but if we staying as we are I have a hard time deciding if I’d want him as is. Rockets would be the best situation for him.
Asking Melo to check his ego is like asking Lebron to check his crown. Adding Melo will only slow down further development of younger Laker core, if they keep it. Probably a coin flip for Melo but playing with Lebron might seem like best chance for a chip. Logic to either destination.
Still hoping the Heat get him. Still think OKC shouldn’t let him go.
They have too. He’s costing them 90million with taxes
I know how much its costing them
Settle down Margaret
Ok now that’s definitely a Jeff Jarrett reference lol
It is just difficult to justify paying out 100 mill in tax plus 28 to Melo for the numbers he had last season and attitude about only starting. Hard to justify to ownership if you are GM trying explain why owner has to pay 100 million in LUXURY tax for a player who is past his prime and couldn’t help get the team past round 1. Would you give us some dialogue of how you would rationalize, justify your logic paying out so much. 100 mill is a lot to even billionares I would think. Plus 28 in salary. If you had to write that check you would NOT write it…But if you have a good argument I would like to hear it…
I’ve made the argument several times on the previous posts. Bottom line is OKC needs shooters. Now they need even more shooting. There is zero space on the floor for Westbrook and Paul George. There is zero chance they get anyone that impacts them the way Melo does, and they’re still in the luxury tax regardless. It’s only 1 year of heavy tax. Obviously the owner doesnt care about trying to win. That’s the short version
I remember your prev post. I was hoping for more than ”impact & spacing”.Kyle Korver can give you ”spacing” for a whole lot less. 100 mill is a lot for impact and spacing …32 minutes gets you 16ppg/reg season 11 ppg post season..FG% 40 3pt 35%. Worse in post season . Bloom is off Melo. 100 mill tax is alot to pay unless rich like you. Team/owner can win as many or more games without Melo. I do not think it is obvious that owner doesnt care about winning. PG seems to think he cares. Owners Cared more than Magic did about getting PG. Magic could have traded for PG.
Even if I may disagree, thanks for sharing your thoughts
Cannot see him fitting in Houston, Lakers or Philly. Probably he fits better in Miami. I don’t understand why Houston are desperate to get rid of Anderson they sign him to that contract, they did like him enough to pay stupid money for him, why don’t wanna keep their side of the bargain & expect another team to come & rescue their useless FO. Just give the guy PT & sit out till the end of his contract.
That’s maybe the smartest thing anyone have ever said in the whole history of the world. Man you are a genius, Houston should hire you to run their team!!!! Yeah it’s called a giant Eff up and Houston is far from the only team that ever wants to dump one. Andersuck holds the team back and can’t play the type of D you need from a 4 to win a title so why not try to pawn him off. You don’t cry when they get the money so why are you crying when the team is trying to get out of paying the money. It’s called business and if someone takes him (which will likely happen at the trade deadline) then why wouldn’t you trade him? Someone will likely want cap space and will take the final year and a half in his contract knowing they can spread the final year over 3 and have him for 3 years at a fair price off the bench so why is Houston suppose to not dk that deal??? Please,,,,, enlighten us all oh great one!!!
He’s a shell of the player he used to be. When he needs the O to go through him that’s not happening now. If and it’s a big if, he comes off bench and provides some decent scoring maybe he’s a fit? Doubtful his ego will allow this type of role
BREAKING NEWS…..
Melo to sign for the Warriors….
ONLY way he’ll get that ring.
That’s my theory anyways
I think you over estimate the warriors and under estimate the rockets. Yes losing Ariza hurts some but if they bring Luc back and sign Melo Ariza won’t be missed. Houston had GSs number last season and the warriors GM even admitted yesterday that if CP doesn’t go down with an injury there’s a good chance (likely) that you are talkig about a new champion last season.
Point is if Houston makes a few minor adjustments they will be right there again and they will have hunger on their side. Cousins signing was okay but let’s see what Cousins Comes back, if it were all star Cousins I’m pretty sure NO would have made an offer to him that he couldn’t refuse. One thing I will 100% guarantee you of is he will not be a defensive force for GS In his first year, that type of injury isn’t something you just bounce right back from and it takes time to get your bounce back if you ever down which many do not. Cousins won’t be much more than a set shooter and Houston won’t leave him open because they aren’t a zone team so Cousins won’t be much to GS.
Don’t be surprised or cry to hard when Goliath goes down big boy.
I was actually thinking Melo works for Houston if he plays the 4, Tucker moves to the 3, and they resign mbah mute. They still could use use another wing, but hopefully for them James Nunnaly can provide that. Too bad they got rid of Troy Williams…if they had any money, Montrezl Harrell would be perfect for them. They could use a more dynamic big. I also think Harden needs to play more off the ball, but that wont happen
I dont think GS is vulnerable to Houston. I never thought so for a second last year. I do think they’re vulnerable to Boston and Philly though
…De’anthony Melton should be able to give them some minutes defensively, and he might be long enough to guard some wings. He has some Marcus Smart in him
Being the team favored to land Melo is like being the patient most at risk to get cancer.
I never thought Houston was really interested in Melo last year, but were placating CP3 and/or trying to pawn off Ryan Anderson of the Knicks.
Melo hasn’t been able to play in any offensive system without infuriating his coach and/or teammates. This will be the second time around with MDA. It’s sad, Houston is a player away, but, with Melo, they’re 2 players away.