Its being reported that the Rockets intend to bring free agent Carmelo Anthony off the bench this season. Im just wondering if anybody in the Houston organization let Melo know that. We remember what happened when the media suggested that Melo was coming off the bench with OKC when he signed with them last offseason.
Bleacher Report NBA on Twitter
Rockets expected to bring Melo off the bench this season https://t.co/QZThkJq9Jh
I havent heard Melo state publicly that he is accepting a bench role with the Rockets, but if thats the plan and he accepts his new role, then he could find some success in Houston. He’ll still get plenty of court time in D’Antoni’s system.
Problem is, less than a month ago, Melo was still saying he wasnt ready to come off the bench with Houston.
Per Jemele Hill of The Undefeated, Anthony made the following comments in the hours before what was expected to be an announcement that Anthony will join the Rockets. He said, “I know how to play this game of basketball. I’ve been playing it for a long time. When I feel like I’m ready to take that role, then I’ll take that role.”
Recent reports say Melo might be finally ready to accept a secondary role now that hes playing for a legit contender. Its reported that Melo plans to sign his inevitable one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Houston Rockets on Monday with an understanding that he would come off the bench, league sources told ESPN. Anthony has traveled to Houston and will finish his physical Monday before signing the contract.
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
Story on ESPN: Carmelo Anthony completing physical, signing with Rockets today. https://t.co/Oile4zLeKy
In addition to joining the first legitimate championship contender of his career, Anthony, 34, also received a phat $25.4 million portion of his original 2018-19 salary — minus a $2.4 million contract buyout with the Atlanta Hawks.
A 10-time All-Star forward, Anthony averaged a respectable 16.2 points for the Thunder a year ago, but it’s clear that his skills are diminishing.
SportsCenter on Twitter
The evolution of Carmelo:
It makes sense that he comes off the bench in Houston and provide some instant offense and long-range weaponry to a Houston team led by the three-headed monster of James Harden, CP3, and Clint Capela. Im still hesitant to believe that Melo will embrace that role. His ego has never allowed it in the past and he loves to be up in the midst of action, but CP3 is one of his best friends and maybe being around his boy for the first time will help him ease into his 15th season truly accepting of being a role player for the first time in his career.
