Just four months after signing for the Houston Rockets, Carmelo Anthony could well be on the move again after it emerged the franchise were exploring the possibility of waiving the 10-time All Star forward. Despite making a solid if unspectacular start to life in Houston, the Rockets clearly feel the move hasn’t worked out and are looking at a change of direction. While Anthony has been sidelined in recent weeks due to ‘illness’, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the 34-year old’s time as a Rocket is all but over, with it remaining to be seen whether any other team in the league will try and sign the power forward.
With rookie Gary Clark impressing when called upon, Houston coach Mike D’Antoni is widely believed to be considering handing the youngster a bigger role in the rotation, cutting Anthony’s minutes on the court. While the veteran opted to sign for the Rockets despite being offered a more prominent role with other teams, Houston clearly feel Anthony isn’t going to be able to contribute in the way they envisaged at the start of the season. The former first-round draft pick has shown glimpses of his quality during the early stages of the campaign, but his struggles in defense have been clear for all to see.
Anthony’s form has mirrored that of Houston, hit-and-miss. A 28-point showing against Brooklyn, and back-t0-back 24 and 22-point outings in defeats to the Clippers and the Jazz have been combined with lacklustre performances that have led some to label the forward as past it. Averaging 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds from his 10 appearances this season. With the Rockets now priced at around 6/1 with the latest NBA betting on bet365 to top the Western Conference, Houston’s championship credentials are being questioned by a lot of people who had tipped the franchise to be serious contenders this season.
In the event that Anthony is released, his veteran’s minimum $2.4 million contract could be claimed on waivers – or he could choose to clear waivers and become a free agent. The question is then whether he would sign for a new team right away or wait to see what other options present themselves to him. While this isn’t the best time for teams to make roster moves, there are teams interested in signing Anthony despite both his age and questionable form this season.
The Warriors, Nets and Lakers could all theoretically fit Anthony on their rosters, and a move to China would see the 34-year old able to land one last big payday before retirement. There are, however, a growing number of people claiming Anthony should just call it a day and retire from the game rather than trying to scratch around for another move. That might be a dramatic move for a man whose stock has fallen dramatically since leaving New York for Oklahoma last year, but when you look at the options on the table, it might well be the only move Anthony could make at this point in his career.
