The Oklahoma City Thunder have granted Carmelo Anthony, permission to meet with prospective teams including the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat. The Thunder and Carmelo’s agents have been working around the clock to try to cut ties with the 34 year old Forward.
After a disappointing season from Carmelo, who had previously been a 24-27 PPG scorer. Carmelo averaged a career low 16.2 PPG when he decided to take a role spreading the floor as a catch and shoot power forward. Now Carmelo believes that he is not suited for this role, and wants to go to a team that will use him properly.
I don’t think I can be effective as that type of player, I think I was willing to accept that challenge in that role, but I think I bring a little bit more to the game as far as being more knowledgeable and what I still can do as a basketball player.
Carmelo has also made it very clear that he still will not accept a bench role.
A team that is in desperate need of a small forward is the Houston Rockets. Their coach, Mike D’Antoni, is very familiar with Carmelo’s game. After coaching Carmelo, when they were both members of the Knicks in 2012, D’Antoni believes there is still a lot left in his tank, and that he could help the Rockets after they have just lost Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute in free agency.
D’Antoni has made it clear to Carmelo that he thinks the circumstances together would be far different in Houston than they were in New York, and welcomed the idea of coaching Anthony again.
Would this addition of Carmelo be a good fit in Houston?