Ever since Carmelo Anthony was abruptly taken out of the line up with the Houston Rockets, NBA fans were left to wonder what exactly went wrong. Several people close to Anthony have spoken to the media. Whether it was his trainer Chris Brickley, or former teammate Chauncey Billups, neither of them did Anthony any favors.
Melo, still a free agent, took it upon himself to finally take control of the story.
This morning, Carmelo Anthony joined Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take to discuss what happened with the Houston Rockets:
Melo came off as a sincere and honest human being, without diving too deep into the weeds about the intricate details of what really happened. He revealed as much as possible, without hurting his chances of making another NBA roster.
My reaction to Melo’s transparency with Stephen A. Smith:
As Melo mentioned, people do indeed get fired every day. However, it’s not everyday a borderline perennial all-star gets cut straight out of the nine man rotation. The reality is, Melo was never a fit with the Houston Rockets.
Yes, he is one of the greatest scorers of all time. However, the Houston Rockets are one of the worst ball movement teams in the NBA. Anthony proved in Oklahoma City that he was not a spot up shooter; Nor is he an elite defender.
Think about the make up of the Rockets’ roster. Daryl Morey probably recognized at the time that the Rockets needed to find a capable spot up shooter, preferably a ‘3 & D’ guy. However, without knowing the intricate details, it seems the Rockets did not do a great job communicating with Anthony.
The bright side for Carmelo Anthony:
He has now taken control of his own story. Anthony made it clear that he was not interested in a farewell tour. He is not as delusional about his capabilities as the media has painted him to be. Anthony’s ability to score the basketball should prove to be serviceable to a team looking to compete for an NBA championship.
I hope Melo gets the opportunity to prove that he still belongs. In my opinion, Melo is far from done.