The Oklahoma City Thunder are still trying to figure out the best approach for parting ways with Carmelo Anthony, and the Houston Rockets appear to be the team that is most prepared to pounce when the situation is finally sorted out.
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reports that the Rockets are considered the “strong frontrunners” to sign Anthony if and when he becomes a free agent.
The Houston Rockets have emerged as strong frontrunners to acquire Carmelo Anthony once he is free from Oklahoma City, league sources tell Yahoo. Anthony also has considered Miami.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 13, 2018
As Marc Stein of the New York Times notes, the Thunder are weighing their options with Anthony. They could still work out a trade for him with a team like the Chicago Bulls, who may actually be willing to absorb Carmelo’s nearly $28 million salary for next season. However, it still seems like a buyout or waiving Anthony via the stretch provision is the most reasonable avenue for OKC.
A trade that could send Carmelo Anthony to Chicago — with Cristiano Feliciano going to Oklahoma City — is now at least mathematically feasible. Check out a series of tweets from @albertnahmad for the full salary-cap explanation
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 13, 2018
The Thunder have been working all week to try to find a trade home for Carmelo Anthony so they don't have to incur the considerable full cost of outright waiving him. One way or another, Melo is leaving OKC and it's simply a matter at this point of how soon https://t.co/yBagNpsDnn
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 13, 2018
The obvious question for the Thunder — provided Chicago would be willing to absorb Melo's $27.9 million salary — is how many quality assets OKC would have to attach to satisfy the Bulls — and whether that cost is preferable to just waiving and stretching Anthony https://t.co/0qvZg2tr2u
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 13, 2018
The Thunder have reportedly allowed Anthony to meet with multiple teams already, and it seems like he has already narrowed his decision down to a few contenders. One Rockets star has supposedly been pushing for the team to find a way to add Carmelo.
