Carmelo Anthony finally signed with the Houston Rockets on Monday, ending an odyssey where the destination seemed clear from the beginning but the journey took much longer than everyone would have liked.
Anthony did get a sweet Atlanta Hawks jersey out of the deal, not to mention a pretty hefty payday, and he now gets to join one of the favorites in the Western Conference as they try to dethrone the Golden State Warriors this fall. It was clear the Rockets had interest in Anthony’s services for some time, but now that he’s passed his physical and signed his deal, how he actually fits in on the team is another question.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that fit might begin with Anthony coming off the bench for the Rockets. Included in his story about Anthony’s official signing is a tidbit about how he’s expected to come off the bench for Houston.
The Rockets are expected to bring Anthony off the bench this season, signing him after winning an NBA-best 65 regular-season games and pushing the Golden State Warriors to a seven-game series in the Western Conference finals.
Woj later clarified on Twitter that he will compete for a starting role in Houston, but the expectation is that he will see big minutes in a role where he starts the game in warmup gear.
Of course, Carmelo Anthony will compete for a starting spot in training camp, but ultimately could come off the bench — based on whatever Mike D'Antoni decides makes most sense for Rockets. https://t.co/1Gn2eJlhye
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 13, 2018
The initial wording of his story was changed as well, meaning the line may have been more assumption than something backed up by sourcing.
The part in Woj's article where he said Carmelo Anthony would be coming off the bench has been changed.
I'd assume part of it has to do with people online reading that part as him reporting Melo would come off the bench…even though Woj did not cite any sources on it. pic.twitter.com/LME8SBJKym
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) August 13, 2018
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni won’t commit to where Anthony will be playing, either.
Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni to @usatodaysports on whether Carmelo Anthony will start or come off the bench https://t.co/FRR6wvMgRp pic.twitter.com/s3d3YE93Mx
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 13, 2018
Regardless, a role on the bench is obviously something Anthony and the Rockets have discussed before signing there, so this won’t come as a shock. But it’s clearly a change in course from where he’s seen himself in previous years. Anthony basically laughed away a question about a bench role on the Thunder last season. But things are different in Houston, and despite the likelihood that Anthony does come off the bench the minutes will be there because Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute are playing elsewhere this fall.
Whether Melo’s set up to win Sixth Man of the Year or he simply becomes another role player on a team dominated by Chris Paul and James Harden is tough to say. Anthony struggled to find a rhythm with the Thunder last year while Russell Westbrook’s production continued to hum along and Paul George had himself some big moments.
Perhaps things will be different for Anthony this time.
