[Ringer]10 Questions About Carmelo Anthony Joining the Rockets

zeeshan2 · Aug 2, 2018

Does this make sense for Melo?
Absolutely. For starters, Anthony will get paid all $27.9 million he’s owed for the upcoming season. (He took a $2.4 million reduction in the Hawks buyout to shake free of Atlanta, which he then made back by signing with Houston.) That’s good money if you can get it—and he did.

Beyond that, the Thunder never felt like a good fit for Anthony. He went from being the first option in New York City to the third option in Oklahoma City, which is a considerable drop-off in both his professional and personal lives (no offense, OKC). And don’t underrate the work-life balance here. In Houston, at the very least, he’ll be reunited with his buddy Chris Paul. Together, they’re halfway to a wine quorum. How it’ll shake out on the court is more complicated (we’ll get to that shortly), but Anthony went from a team that got bounced from the first round of the postseason in six games by the Utah Jazz to a team that won 65 games and came within one win of dispatching the Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. By all accounts, this is a much better spot for Anthony. This is an admittedly out-of-context tweet, but it feels like it probably sums up Melo’s current mood.

OK, but does it make sense for Houston?
That’s trickier. Context is key here. The Rockets re-signed Paul to a four-year deal worth $160 million. They also retained center Clint Capela with a five-year contract for $90 million. Those were priorities for general manager Daryl Morey going into the offseason, but keeping those guys around also limited the team’s flexibility in the free-agent market. (The Rockets are looking at an estimated luxury-tax bill of around $19 million, in part because they owe Ryan Anderson an indefensible $20.4 million next season.)

As a consequence, Houston watched Trevor Ariza sign a one-year deal with the Suns for $15 million. Luc Mbah a Moute also hit the road, landing with the Clippers on a one-year contract worth $4.3 million. Those might not seem like big losses on the surface, but Ariza is a capable 3-point shooter on a team that led the league in attempts and makes from distance last season. The Rockets also scored 40.9 percent of their points via the 3-ball, according to NBA.com; that, too, was tops in the league. Also, Ariza and Mbah a Moute are quality defenders who helped Houston to the sixth-best defensive rating in the league. Melo has never been shy about shooting from deep, but the next time he plays defense might be the first.

But, again, context matters. Given the cap constraints, there weren’t many players the Rockets were capable of adding this offseason, as my Ringer colleagues Kevin O’Connor and Chris Vernon discussed on a recent NBA Showpodcast in a way that only those two could:

KOC: What other options are there for them to get a guy who can go off for 30 points?

Verno: Thirty is a little strong, Kev. How many times did Carmelo Anthony score 30 points last year?

KOC: Zero.

[Quick pause]

KOC: How ’bout 20?

[Much laughter]

[Fin]

Sometimes you have to take what’s available, even if what’s available isn’t exactly what you need.

Is Anthony washed? It sounds like he’s washed.
Provided you know it and acknowledge it, being washed isn’t so bad. The problem here is that Anthony has always had an overinflated opinion of his abilities, and even if he realized he was on the decline he’d probably never admit it and adjust his game. His numbers aren’t exactly trending in the right direction. Melo is a 10-time All-Star, but last season was unquestionably his worst in the NBA. Anthony posted career lows in points, assists, and steals per game; field goal percentage; free throws attempted and made per game; free throw percentage; PER; TS percentage; BPM; and VORP.

Part of that decline is because of the way he was deployed in OKC. Anthony had a 23.2 usage rate with the Thunder—the lowest of his career. Acquiring a ball-dominant player and then not giving him the ball seemed like a bad idea all the way around. It was like Thunder GM Sam Presti decided he really wanted a goldfish, went out and bought a goldfish, and then stuck that goldfish in a really small bowl with no water. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that Melo just sort of flopped around all season and then looked largely lifeless in the end.

But even in an ideal situation where Anthony isn’t told to go stand in the corner and wait for Russell Westbrook to pass him the ball, Melo is still 34 years old. That’s not real-world old, but it is NBA old. (Sadly, it is also Ringer old.) At this point, his career is winding down and there’s only so much you can reasonably expect him to contribute.

About that: What can the Rockets get out of him?
As we know, the Rockets like to shoot 3-pointers. The good news for Houston is that Anthony spent a lot of time taking them in OKC last season. That’s pretty much all he did. Melo averaged 6.1 3-point attempts and 2.2 makes. Both numbers were the second-highest of his career.

But taking and making a lot of 3s was only part of Houston’s success last season. The Rockets were also an excellent defensive team. That’s not exactly Anthony’s end of the floor. Houston’s offensive system also calls for a lot of iso ball. In theory, that would seem to fit well with Anthony’s ball-goes-in, ball-doesn’t-come-out game.

But that’s a coaching issue, right? Isn’t that Mike D’Antoni’s problem?
“Problem” is a good way to put it. You will, of course, recall that D’Antoni and Anthony were in New York together with the Knicks for what amounted to two not-terrific seasons for the pair. D’Antoni tried to get Anthony to move to power forward. Melo refused and essentially told him to take a hike—which D’Antoni did.

D’Antoni told ESPN last year that Anthony basically delivered an ultimatum to the Knicks front office during the 2011-12 campaign and said the organization had to choose between the franchise player and the head coach. When D’Antoni found out, he said he “just went in and quit.” This is going to be the most awkward reunion since Nick Young ran into Iggy Azalea last year.

Before Anthony signed with the Rockets, D’Antoni was asked for his thoughts on giving the Melo marriage another go. Multiple sources told The Washington Postthat the head coach said he would be “fine” with it. See? Everything is fine. This is fine. Of course, that report also operated under the assumption that the Rockets would bring Anthony off the bench.

Oh, so he’s willing to come off the bench?
Willing? Willing is a problematic word when applied to Anthony and the prospect of not starting. Let’s review the history here. Last September, not long after joining the Thunder, a reporter asked Melo whether he might consider coming off the bench. Anthony responded the way any good professional with a firm grasp of his skill set would—by laughing out loud at the idea.
Click to expand...

Os Trigonum · Aug 2, 2018

deserves its own thread

seclusion · Aug 2, 2018

Another bullshit article from the Ringer said:

Bottom line: Will this work out?
Look, nothing is certain in this world. But … no.
Click to expand...

I'm convinced either they only have 1 moron doing their Rockets' takes or they only have idiots for writers there. They clearly don't like Melo. This is going to be yet another fun season.

napalm06 · Aug 2, 2018

seclusion said: ↑

I'm convinced either they only have 1 moron doing their Rockets' takes or they only have idiots for writers there. They clearly don't like Melo. This is going to be yet another fun season.
Click to expand...

If Melo signs. These will look even more stupid - if that's possible - if he doesn't sign

rocketsballin · Aug 2, 2018

10 questions about why clutchfans needs more melo threads

Chamillionaire · Aug 2, 2018

The only way it would work out is if we won the championship. There is no other way we have a successful season other than winning a chip. Can Melo help us win a chip? Remains to be seen. I do think he will play better here than in OKC just because of CP3 and MVP.

oogie boogie · Aug 2, 2018

In the 78 games Carmelo Anthony played last season with OKC he scored at least 20 points in a game 28 times.

In the 310 games Trevor Ariza played in the past four seasons with Houston he scored at least 20 points in a game 28 times.

In the 682 total career games Luc Mbah A Moute played he scored at least 20 points in a game 5 times.

They can say that the fit doesn't make sense. Sure, Anthony leaves a lot to be desired defensively, but laughing at the question, "how 'bout 20?" is such a joke. Yes, let's laugh at the washed-up guy who can score 20 points 36% percent of the time.

Spacemoth · Aug 2, 2018

It’s just groupthink at this point. Bill Simmons is walking around the room pointing at his staffers, going “Stauskas?! Stauskas?! Stauskas!!” He shouldn’t be surprised if not a single thought that emanates out of the heads of his non-KOC crew is an independent one.

KingCheetah · Aug 2, 2018

@YOLO

lnchan · Aug 2, 2018

I posted this in one of the other 48 Melo threads out there. 48 being the minutes Melo wants guaranteed per game.

MystikArkitect · Aug 2, 2018

seclusion said: ↑

I'm convinced either they only have 1 moron doing their Rockets' takes or they only have idiots for writers there. They clearly don't like Melo. This is going to be yet another fun season.
Click to expand...

The funnier part will be if Melo does well here they’re just going to be mad at him for not doing well in OKC.

steddinotayto · Aug 2, 2018

This cat writes the doom and gloom pieces for The Ringer. Their most knowledgeable NBA writer, Kevin O'Connor, has some skepticism about Melo as a Rocket but also thinks it's stupid to think the Rockets will be significantly worse this year.

seclusion · Aug 3, 2018

oogie boogie said: ↑

In the 78 games Carmelo Anthony played last season with OKC he scored at least 20 points in a game 28 times.

In the 310 games Trevor Ariza played in the past four seasons with Houston he scored at least 20 points in a game 28 times.

In the 682 total career games Luc Mbah A Moute played he scored at least 20 points in a game 5 times.

They can say that the fit doesn't make sense. Sure, Anthony leaves a lot to be desired defensively, but laughing at the question, "how 'bout 20?" is such a joke. Yes, let's laugh at the washed-up guy who can score 20 points 36% percent of the time.
Click to expand...

Seriously like when exactly did scoring 20ppg in the nba become laughable? Last I checked this guy has a lifetime average of 24ppg, this last year was an aberration in a bad system. Dude had 22ppg the year before, which wasn't even his career low before OKC and he's just all of a sudden going to fall off the earth?

How do these people have jobs?

Bearius Jones · Aug 3, 2018

seclusion said: ↑

Seriously like when exactly did scoring 20ppg in the nba become laughable? Last I checked this guy has a lifetime average of 24ppg, this last year was an aberration in a bad system. Dude had 22ppg the year before, which wasn't even his career low before OKC and he's just all of a sudden going to fall off the earth?

How do these people have jobs?
Click to expand...

It's not what you know but who you know, you know, rightio?

Deuce · Aug 3, 2018

Spacemoth said: ↑

It’s just groupthink at this point. Bill Simmons is walking around the room pointing at his staffers, going “Stauskas?! Stauskas?! Stauskas!!” He shouldn’t be surprised if not a single thought that emanates out of the heads of his non-KOC crew is an independent one.
Click to expand...

The Ringer group think is real. Probably festers from their Slack conversations.

KOC is the only one you can get any type of objective thought from. Everyone else is "narrative" driven.

theimpossibles1 · Aug 3, 2018

Fail. Should have started a thread for each question.

We talkin bout MELO?!

dmoneybangbang · Aug 3, 2018

steddinotayto said: ↑

This cat writes the doom and gloom pieces for The Ringer. Their most knowledgeable NBA writer, Kevin O'Connor, has some skepticism about Melo as a Rocket but also thinks it's stupid to think the Rockets will be significantly worse this year.
Click to expand...

This. I only care what KOC thinks.

dmoneybangbang · Aug 3, 2018

Deuce said: ↑

The Ringer group think is real. Probably festers from their Slack conversations.

KOC is the only one you can get any type of objective thought from. Everyone else is "narrative" driven.
Click to expand...

KOC needs to join a different podcast or just talk with his draft class guys.

BamBam · Aug 3, 2018

Good question, yes....no???

Go Rockets!!!
.......
.......
.......

DudeWah · Aug 3, 2018

They made a list of 10 questions and didn’t bother numbering them?

Bad journalism.

Forums

[Ringer]10 Questions About Carmelo Anthony Joining the Rockets

zeeshan2 Member

Os Trigonum Contributing Member
Supporting Member

seclusion rip chadwick

napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

rocketsballin Member

Chamillionaire Member

oogie boogie Member

Spacemoth Contributing Member

KingCheetah Contributing Member

lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

MystikArkitect Member

steddinotayto Contributing Member

seclusion rip chadwick

Bearius Jones Member

Deuce Context & Nuance

theimpossibles1 Member

dmoneybangbang Member

dmoneybangbang Member

BamBam Contributing Member

DudeWah Member

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!

[Ringer]10 Questions About Carmelo Anthony Joining the Rockets

zeeshan2 Member

Os Trigonum Contributing Member Supporting Member

seclusion rip chadwick

napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

rocketsballin Member

Chamillionaire Member

oogie boogie Member

Spacemoth Contributing Member

KingCheetah Contributing Member

lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

MystikArkitect Member

steddinotayto Contributing Member

seclusion rip chadwick

Bearius Jones Member

Deuce Context & Nuance

theimpossibles1 Member

dmoneybangbang Member

dmoneybangbang Member

BamBam Contributing Member

DudeWah Member

Share This Page

Os Trigonum Contributing Member
Supporting Member