Carmelo Anthony’s coming to Houston was heavily criticized and apparently with good reason. Following a two-point game production followed by a mysterious illness, it seems pretty evident that the all-star forward is on his way out.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey called the speculations on the 34-year-old’s future, branding it unfair. This is despite the fact that there is a big possibility that Anthony could be waived as early as Monday, ESPN said.
These are the clear writings on the wall, backed by the fact that the Rockets have not exactly had a smooth start. Currently, at 5-7, the Rockets have a net rating of 11.1 points per 100 possessions, when Melo is not on the floor. Apparently and despite the offensive prowess that Anthony brings, such has not exactly become efficient for the boys of head coach Mike D’Antoni.
The next 24 hours will be closely monitored as NBA fans await the fate of Anthony. Should he be waived, the next question is which team he could end up with. He could end up with a strong team and sacrifice pay or a rag-tag team where he could get a fat paycheck where he is likely to play only in the regular season.
If the choice is the former, expect the Golden State Warriors or even the Toronto Raptors to be mentioned as potential stops. The Los Angeles Lakers could also be in play with most knowing the close ties between Melo and LeBron James.
Realistically, looking at the teams which have been struggling offensively could make sense. In the Eastern Conference, there is the Cleveland Cavaliers while the Phoenix Suns could put him to good use over in the Western Conference. It all depends if Anthony can fit in and if that team has the budget space to pay him for the rest of the 2018-19 NBA season, at the least.
Anthony is reaching the twilight of his career and may need to tone down his expectations. Winning an NBA title is normally at the back of the head of most players at this stage, something he has yet to savor.
In order for him to do that, he may need to lower his pride and soften his demands. While he is a proven scorer, it is a fact that there have been a lot of younger players shining to date. With that said, Melo may be taken in by any team but will be someone coming off the bench. There is also that possibility that if he fails to latch on to any team, traveling abroad (temporarily) may also be an option.
