The Houston Rockets and Carmelo Anthony will reportedly part ways sooner than later. Here are four reasons to buy or sell Melo to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers have dominated headlines with Luke Walton news recently, but it is time for another team to grab the spotlight.
Well, it seems that the Carmelo Anthony experiment could be over in Houston!
According to reports, most notably ESPN, many believe around the Rockets organization that Anthony could be out as soon as this week…
The final nail in the coffin was that G League type performance that he had against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He scored only two points on 1-of-11 shooting from the field. What’s worse, the ball did not even go through the hoop. He got credit for the basket from a goaltending violation.
Since then, the Rockets have tried to handle Anthony’s exit like one would trying to stop the waves of the Pacific Ocean with a sponge.
Anthony was not with the team for the last two games because of an illness, but Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a “Woj Bomb” reporting that the team and Melo were discussing how they were going to co-exist going forward over the weekend.
ESPN story on Carmelo Anthony's uncertain future with the Rockets. https://t.co/mncxgEEC3h
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 11, 2018
He will not be with the team when they play on Tuesday.
Then the Rockets GM Daryl Morey does a small interview after the Indiana game Sunday night to make a statement…
"“One of the reasons I’m here, besides it’s 10 games in, about, is I think there’s just a lot of unfair-like rumors and everything going around about him,” Morey said before Houston’s 115-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. “He’s been great with us. As Coach [Mike D’Antoni] said yesterday, his approach has been great. He’s accepted every role Coach has given him — starting, off the bench, whatever it’s been. “We’re struggling as a team, and it’s my job, it’s Coach’s job to figure this thing out. But from Guy 1 to Guy 15 — and I’ll put myself in there; a lot of this is on me right now — we’re not playing well. We’ve just got to figure it out. We’re evaluating everything.”"
Understand that this is very rare for Morey, no check that, it’s rare for any GM to talk about a player in this manner. But you have to realize that Chris Paul is tight with Anthony and it wouldn’t be too smart to show up one of his close friends. Remember this is the “Banana Boat” crew right…
Trying to make my guy @carmeloanthony the fall guy huh!? Man y’all need to stop. That’s the easy way out instead of addressing what the real problem.
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 12, 2018
That’s one member…
https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1061879534172041217
…and that’s the other member of the crew LeBron James. Did you really think that he wouldn’t come off the front porch to say something? More on him later.
Dwyane Wade does have a point, however. The Houston Rockets have made huge mistakes in the offseason that Carmelo Anthony is being thrown under the bus for. Trevor Ariza leaving for Phoenix and Luc Mbah A Moute proving you can go home again to the Los Angeles Clippers. With those two leaving, the Rockets have lost their defensive identity.
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Through ten games, Carmelo Anthony averaged 13.4 points a game and 5.4 rebounds, shooting 40 percent from the floor. But that was not going to be nearly enough.
It was hard for anyone to believe this was going to work based on the past relationship of the player and the coach. I mean come on Lakers fans, this is Mike D’Antoni here? You guys dealt with him before. The guy that holds grudges like a hungry lion does a raw steak. Melo is going to lose his spot to a two-way player…Gary Clark?
"“Gary Clark’s a player,” D’Antoni said after the Rockets outscored the Pacers by 16 in Clark’s 33 minutes Sunday. “He’s a player. Defense, rebounding, right position, shoots the ball. I mean, he’s a player.”"
That’s like saying we’re going to get rid of Tyson Chandler or JaVale McGee for Johnathan Williams.
But with Carmelo Anthony soon to be a free agent, the Lakers will be at the top of the free agent rumor mill.
Lakers fans, close your eyes and you are the president of basketball operations and Melo’s agent is calling for availability. You now have to power to buy or sell signing Carmelo Anthony…
Reason No. 1 To Sign Carmelo Anthony: Make LeBron James happy!
It should be a very clear thing to everyone that LeBron James has always wanted to set up a situation where he can play with his friends. It was already done in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the two titles in four years glory days and the debacle in Cleveland.
Houston was never in the running for James because they had to re-sign Chris Paul to a max extension while paying James Harden and praying that no one extended Clint Capela. The only realistic situation for a “Banana Boat” scenario for LeBron is if Carmelo Anthony is signed as a free agent.
The one thing that LeBron James needs is people around him that he trusts. Who does he trust over all others? His friends and grizzled NBA veterans. Tyson Chandler was signed to the Lakers recently…
Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Reasons Tyson Chandler will be signed
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to sign Tyson Chandler after his buyout from the Phoenix Suns. Ronald Agers probes why the LA is signing the veteran.
There were reports laid out in the piece above that LeBron James had a hand in making that deal happen. One “hookup” from his friend James Jones, who just happens to be the interim GM of the Phoenix Suns and one buyout later, Tyson Chandler is in a Lakers uniform. Since the Lakers haven’t lost since, why not go to the well one more time!
Reason No. 1 to pass on Carmelo Anthony: The NBA has passed him by!
One of LeBron James’ best buddies, Dwyane Wade, is starting his farewell tour this year…
Los Angeles Lakers: Could Dwyane Wade go out like Kobe Bryant
Dwyane Wade announced that this is his last season in the NBA. Could his retirement be like Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant?
Maybe Carmelo Anthony should start thinking the same way. Anthony’s career has taken a fall off the cliff since he left New York. His skills were starting to wane before all the drama of him forcing his way out of a Knicks uniform.
That fact was hidden with all the dysfunction of the Phil Jackson feud, the constant coaching and offensive scheme changes, the lack of talent around him, you know…the world of a James Dolan run team.
The Oklahoma City Thunder trade at the time looked very good. Couple Melo with Paul George and Russell Westbrook and the “Big Three” can carry the franchise to a Western Conference Finals matchup with the Warriors. Can’t miss scenario right?
Not even close. The Thunder tried to turn Carmelo into a 3-point shooter to space the floor. This is something that is not a strength of the aging star. Plus, he needs the ball in his hands to be a first option player. In OKC, he was the third option.
By the time the playoffs came around, the secret was out on Carmelo Anthony; he couldn’t stay in front of anyone. The Utah Jazz picked on Anthony mercilessly in the pick and roll.
Time after time over the first round series they would expose Melo into one-on-one matchups with Donovan Mitchell on the switch. By Game 5, Billy Donovan had Carmelo watching from the sidelines as the Thunder was upset in the first round by the Jazz.
The Thunder era ended the same way as the previous stops did…UGLY! After balking at the idea of coming off the bench, Melo was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and was quickly bought out. With this ten game mess, you could see the end for Carmelo Anthony.
Reason No. 2 to sign Carmelo Anthony: The man can score the basketball!
If you watch the highlights, the Lakers would love to get about 40 to 50 percent of this Carmelo Anthony. At one time, Carmelo Anthony was considered the best scorer in the world.
How good was he? The Redeem Team does not reclaim the Gold Medal without his outside shooting throughout the Olympic games. His shooting was perfect for the international game.
Carmelo has famously been compared to LeBron James since the day both players walked into the NBA back in 2003. Obviously, LeBron James is the better player overall, but Carmelo does have one asset that James can’t touch…
The low post game.
The one thing Carmelo Anthony can bring to the Lakers is a player that can get on the box and make a play. If you look over the roster, the Lakers do not have anyone with the ability to command a double team in the post.
The Los Angeles Lakers are prone to scoring droughts late in games. A Carmelo Anthony signing will give you an option of a proven scorer that can get you a big basket when the offense stalls. The Lakers struggle mightily in the half court. Carmelo in the post could loosen up the offense potentially.
Plus, most have already had this guy buried six feet deep and still piling the dirt on top of his NBA grave. Have the Lakers forgotten they could have a guy, at 13 points per game, who averages more points than every player on the roster not named JaVale McGee, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram?
Food for thought!
Reason No. 2 to pass on Carmelo Anthony: He won’t change his mindset!
Remember this video? That’s my point! Carmelo Anthony won’t forget it. He’s not the same player he was in the past.
We’ve seen this happen to Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley in Houston, Michael Jordan in Washington. The list goes on and on. Father Time is undefeated and Anthony has not made the adjustments needed to fight his aging body.
Look, LeBron James has his flaws, but being in shape is far from being one of them. The reason why James is still dominant in this league is he actually invested in keeping his body working at it’s highest level. Carmelo Anthony well…not so much.
That “Hoodie Melo” look is all the rage in fashion. But let’s be clear here, the reason why Anthony had all that on was that he was trying to lose weight!
Carmelo is going to have to make adjustments to his game. He is no longer going to be the number one option in the NBA. Plus, add to the equation he is a rhythm scorer. What does he need to do?
Rebound the ball on the back line. LeBron has made it clear that he is not going to do it. Tyson Chandler gets on the squad and fills that niche and now he is the toast of La La Land these days. If Melo can get the same mindset and find places of need with the Lakers (There are plenty!) he can be successful.
Plus the bench situation! Carmelo Anthony has to stop treating the bench like a trip to the dentist for a root canal. You can just see that Melo sees himself as the starter and a viable option. The rest of the NBA does not think so. Believe me, the Lakers won’t.
Look at Vince Carter of the Atlanta Hawks. He was on top of the NBA world at one time of his career. Now, he is mentoring rookie Trae Young and providing leadership to the rest of the young guys on the Atlanta roster.
Remember Lakers fans, this is the same franchise that gave Carmelo $25 million just to not show up. It’s gotten that bad for the future Hall of Famer.
My Take…Would I Buy or Sell?
I base it on what I want as a franchise…Do I want to win OR do I want to make a lot of money and sell tickets?
Look, a Carmelo Anthony signing will drive in more money to the franchise. What will the Lakers give him…maybe $2 million tops, prorated? The Lakers will make that back up by the time the National Anthem is finished with the jersey sales, potential ticket sales from Melo fans, etc. He’s still a big name and still a draw.
Do I want to win? Sure, but for this to work with Carmelo, I would have a sit down with him, LeBron James AND Luke Walton to be clear on what is expected. If he agrees, sign him. If not, well, history can repeat itself.
Would I buy or sell on Carmelo?
Sorry folks I’m a biased fan…I’m rolling with Melo! Tell me what you think in the comments section and let’s chat!
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