The Rockets Have Been Trying To Sign Carmelo Anthony Since 2014, And Have Rob Liefeld Art To Prove It

The Houston Rockets made it official on Monday as Carmelo Anthony inked his one-year, veteran minimum deal to join last year’s top seed in the Western Conference.

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1029067917063802880

As of now, it’s still yet to be determined whether Anthony comes off the bench — something he refused to do in Oklahoma City — or earns a starting job, but in either case the Rockets hope he can be a helping hand on the wing as they look to topple the Warriors this season. While Carmelo joining the Rockets was something put in motion earlier this summer while the Thunder were working on trade possibilities for Anthony, it’s apparently been simmering under the surface for many years.

Daryl Morey has apparently been targeting Melo since the summer of 2014, when he apparently pitched Anthony on forming a Big Three with James Harden and, yes, Dwight Howard. On Monday, Morey revealed some art he’d commissioned from comic book artist Rob Liefeld of that trio all together.

Liefeld is, well, not exactly a beloved figure in the world of comics, but apparently Morey is a big fan. The art itself is … fine. Carmelo looks like Carmelo, and while it’s not exactly the best James Harden drawing in the world, it’s fine. Four years after the original commission, Morey was able to bring Anthony to town thanks in large part to swapping Howard out for Melo’s good friend Chris Paul as the star alongside Harden.

The question for Houston and Anthony is what he can still give them four years after their initial pursuit, as he has begun to see his game deteriorate as he nears the end of his career. Still, there’s some offensive juice left and Melo can still get buckets, it’s just how he’ll fit with this roster and handle things on the other end of the floor that will determine how effective he can be for the Rockets.