Report: Rockets, Anthony discussing role for remainder of season
Carmelo Anthony is undoubtedly playing the worst basketball of his 16-year career, which has put the Houston Rockets in quite the bind.
The Rockets and the 34-year-old veteran are reportedly discussing his role with the team and how the two sides can proceed together for the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Anthony was absent for Houston's matchup against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center on Saturday night due to illness. The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen reports that Anthony was sick on Thursday, and The Athletic's Shams Charania reports he practiced in full on Friday.
His lone year with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017-18 left a lot to be desired. Through 10 appearances with the Rockets, Anthony's numbers and overall efficiency have either dipped even further, or are hovering around what he contributed last season.
He's currently averaging 13.4 points on 40.5 percent shooting from the field and 32.8 percent from 3-point range, along with 5.4 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.4 steals in 29.4 minutes per contest. Anthony's most recent outing against his former Thunder squad on Thursday saw the 10-time All-Star score just two points on 11 shots, with his only make of the entire evening coming on a goaltend.
When Anthony's shot isn't dropping, there isn't enough value coming in other facets of the game that warrant him receiving heavy minutes. With injuries and suspensions depleting the roster at times, however, head coach Mike D'Antoni has needed Anthony to see the floor more often than not.
In fact, Anthony has actually missed more shots (72) than he has rebounds (54), assists (5), steals (4), and blocks (7) combined (70).
The Rockets lost defensive-minded wings Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute over the summer as free agents, and now own the Association's 21st-ranked defense after finishing seventh overall a season ago. The team allows a staggering 111 points per 100 possessions with Anthony in the game, which drops to 100.5 points when he sits.
Anthony is under contract this year for the veteran's minimum of $2.4 million, which Houston would have to pay in full if the decision is made to waive him.