Over the last few days, it has become obvious that there’s no chance Carmelo Anthony will be on the Oklahoma City Thunder next season. The relationship between the two sides has seemed to get to a point where Anthony wants out, and the Thunder are more than willing to oblige.
Oklahoma City has a few mechanisms through which it can part ways with Anthony — he can be bought out, traded, or the team can use its stretch provision to get rid of him. As for where he will land, well, that’s still very much up in the air, but whatever team acquires Anthony will hope he’s able to find the form that evaded him for most of last season.
Apparently, when the dust settles on Anthony, the Houston Rockets are the most likely landing spot as of right now, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.
The Houston Rockets have emerged as strong frontrunners to acquire Carmelo Anthony once he is free from Oklahoma City, league sources tell Yahoo. Anthony also has considered Miami.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 13, 2018
Charania’s report was confirmed by Marc Stein of the New York Times.
The Rockets, as reported Tuesday by @NYTSports, are regarded leaguewide as the unquestioned frontrunners to sign Carmelo Anthony once he clears waivers. Here, again, is the browser version of Tuesday's @nytimes NBA newsletter on Houston's Melo pursuit: https://t.co/DoAAn2zR8l https://t.co/43cq15HuuP
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 13, 2018
As Stein notes, the most likely scenario is the Thunder cannot find a trade partner for Anthony, are forced to buy him out, and the veteran forward ends up on the Rockets. The fit would be a little odd, although with how much Houston’s isolation-heavy offense let James Harden and Chris Paul cook last year, it makes some sense to get Anthony, as that’s what he’s done best throughout his basketball career. It remains to be seen if this ends up happening, but for now, it looks like it’s only a matter of time until Anthony ends up on the Rockets.
