The Rockets and Bulls have completed the Carmelo Anthony deal, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports (Twitter link). The Bulls have confirmed the trade is official.
Anthony will head to Chicago along with the draft rights to Jon Diebler and approximately $1.56MM in cash while Houston will receive the draft rights to Tadija Dragicevic.
Diebler is a 30-year-old shooting guard who was originally drafted with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Blazers. Dragicevic, who will turn 33 later this month, is a power forward who was selected with the No. 53 overall pick back in 2008 by the Jazz. Both players currently play in Turkey. Neither player has any NBA experience and it’s unlikely either “prospect” makes his way to the league any time soon.
The Bulls are not expected to play Anthony but will likely either release him or scour the league for a trade. Anthony reportedly wants to find a place where he can make an impact.
The cost for picking up Anthony’s salary at this stage of the season is $675K, so the cash Chicago is receiving more than enough to covers his deal. The Rockets are facing luxury tax concerns, so moving him allows the franchise to lower their anticipated tax payment.
Anthony played just 10 games for the Rockets, averaging 13.4 points per game. The fit wasn’t there in Houston and he’ll likely wait until after the trade deadline to find a new home. The Lakers reportedly have some interest, though the team’s roster is full and the franchise doesn’t want to waive a player on a guaranteed contract in order to add the 10-time All-Star.
I’d be really excited if it was any year between 2003-2014. Can I start campaigning to get LeBron in 2024? Ah, the Bulls, experts at signing superstars when their career is in the coffin.
They didn’t sign him. They got paid almost $1 million to take him off the Rockets hands. It’s one of the few smart moves garpax has made
Imagine Melo and Rose in 2011 they would have been fire. But the heat would probably still beat them
Two great talents but also two ball dependent players. Not sure about that one..
Give Jon Diebler a shot!
I miss the Three-Bler days
I’d like to see Carmelo sign somewhere and do well. Seemed like Houston was going to be a fun fit… maybe he could sign with a West playoff team and drop 40 on Harden and co?
Or, more likely, he’ll have to sign somewhere and slowly fade into obscurity. But that’s less fun.
I think he would fit well with the 76ers
I thought the original report was they were going to play him, pumping up his value.
if every team is looking for a 3 and D wing.. that means the guy theyve got sucks and isnt a 3 and D which… means Melo is an upgrade. That’s how logic works. Everyone is injecting feelings into it. Dude balls better than half the league and half the league plays garbage D. The No-D MVP Harden has a near unstoppable move in the step back. Idk maybe I just am seeing things but Melos fadeaway from the elbow and baseline works A Lot.
Heat, Utah, Charlotte, New Orleans make the most sense for Melo. I hope the Heat sign him. I think it would be really good for both sides if he buys in and does the work to get in shape the way they want. Obviously, it would have been nice if that process began a long time ago, but still doable
As a Heat fan, I agree that if he buys into the culture and system, he’s a great fit. However, if he’s just going to be what he has always tried to be, then I say no thanks. His best years to me were when he was under Karl in Denver, playing within the system that utilized his strengths while hiding his weaknesses. He could have that again with the Heat, but will he cooperate. It is known that he always was clashing with Karl in Denver because he wanted to do what he does, which is what the Knicks allowed, and has led to his failures in OKC and Houston, where it was not tolerated (interestingly enough, one of the cases being with d’Antoni who left NY because they enabled Meeeeelo, but d’Antoni has him out in Houston where it isn’t tolerated).
It’s all up to whether he wants to be Melo playing in a system or be Meeeeeeeelow trying to get his. Melo fits with the Heat; Meeeeeeelow doesn’t.
So now the Bulls think they can deal Melo and his younger clone, Jabari, at the same time, without taking back any bad contracts?
Sure, sounds plausible.
Just release these two and Lopez and let the kids play. No need to hold anyone hostage.
They probably will settle for a 2nd round pick.
name someone not capella that plays defense on the rockets – media driven hate on melo was all fabricated. for short money he did what was expected