Report: Rockets interested in Melo if Thunder buy him out

Carmelo Anthony appears to be on his way out of Oklahoma City, and, if and when he secures a buyout agreement with the Thunder and becomes a free agent, the Houston Rockets would be interested in retaining his services, league sources told Marc Stein of the New York Times.

The Thunder apparently haven't ruled out trying to trade Anthony before going the buyout or stretch-provision route, but it's safe to assume the market for him - and his $27.9-million salary for 2018-19 - will be tepid. The Thunder could save close to $100 million in luxury-tax payments by shedding his contract.

The Rockets were among the teams that pursued Anthony as a trade target last summer before the Knicks sent him to OKC in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a second-round draft pick.

Things did not go well for the 10-time All-Star in his first season with the Thunder. He posted career worsts in field-goal percentage, true shooting percentage, assist rate, free-throw rate, steal rate, PER, box plus-minus, and win shares per 48. It got even worse in the playoffs, when the Thunder were 27.8 points per 100 possessions worse with him on the floor during their six-game loss to the Utah Jazz.