Houston Rockets Rumors: Team in hot pursuit of Carmelo Anthony

The Houston Rockets are barreling through the free agency period but the biggest piece to their puzzle still remains their top target.

Yes, it has been confirmed that the Houston Rockets are still in hot pursuit of Carmelo Anthony who, as you know, recently expressed his desire to waive his no-trade clause for either Houston or the Cleveland Cavaliers. Daryl Morey and the rest of the team’s brass is looking at every possible angle to try to land the 12-time All-Star.

According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, he said that the team is in consistent pursuit of Anthony. The report was more about the signing of Tim Hardaway Jr. but he mentions as a footnote that there would no way that Anthony and Hardaway Jr. would co-exist on the same team. The Knicks have clearly signaled that they’re ready to rebuild and those plans don’t include Anthony.

With the most recent news on this, it appears that the steps are being taken to make this pipe dream a reality. It won’t be easy as the Rockets likely don’t want to give up players they value the most such as Eric Gordon and Clint Capela. If this team were not to include those players, a third team would have to be incorporated so the team keeps its most coveted assets. The latest scenarios I’ve heard about — but unconfirmed — have the team swapping their non-guaranteed contracts and Ryan Anderson to the Portland Trail Blazers while Meyers Leonard gets shipped to the Knicks and then Rockets then are able to acquire Anthony.

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I actually like this scenario but I’d expect that the Knicks would want more in return for things to equalize as Anthony is set to make $24.7 million in 2017-18. The Blazers have about $133 million in guaranteed contracts for 2017-18 and I’m sure they’re looking to unload some of those hefty contracts to get leaner. Leonard will make $9.9 million next season. But whatever the scenario, this deal is likely to include another team because of the aforementioned reasons.

Melo would be excellent addition to the Rockets and could be just what we need to beat the Golden State Warriors. We’d have three guys — along with Harden and Paul — that are ball-dominant trying to share one basketball but I honestly think it would work as they’d defer among each other. So the plot thickens ladies and gentlemen, here’s to hoping that the unthinkable will happen. I’d definitely be onboard with Melo in H-Town.

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Anthony, 33, averaged 22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists off 43.3 percent shooting from the field and 35.9 percent from three through 74 games last season.

Go Rockets.

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