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Carmelo Anthony Rumors: Warriors Have No Interest in Adding Star to Roster
November 16, 2018
With Carmelo Anthony's time with the Houston Rockets all but over, don't expect the two-time defending NBA champions to make a run at the 10-time All-Star.
The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears reported Friday that the Golden State Warriors have "no interest" in Anthony.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday that Houston and Anthony will part ways, although it's not clear if the Rockets will find a trade partner or eventually have to waive him.
Anthony is on the verge of changing uniforms for the fourth time in the span of 14 months. The New York Knicks traded Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder in September 2017, and after a first-round exit from the playoffs last season, the Thunder dealt him to the Atlanta Hawks in July.
That offseason trade resulted in a buyout, leading Anthony to sign for the veteran's minimum ($2.4 million) in Houston. Not only would that give Anthony a chance to play with his friend, Chris Paul, but it gave him a chance to chase that elusive championship ring.
However, the 16th-year forward was asked to come off the bench for the first time in his career in Houston—and it didn't go well. The 34-year-old averaged 13.4 points on just 40.5 percent shooting and 5.4 rebounds in 10 games.
With the Rockets off to a 4-6 start, it was clear this player/team relationship would not last much longer.
Anthony and the Rockets are exploring the landscape to see if a deal can be made. But as Spears noted, Golden State does not appear to be a possible destination.
If Anthony is hoping to add a championship to his resume, there is no better option than the Warriors. After all, this is a team that has helped veterans like Nick "Swaggy P" Young, David West and others win a ring in recent years.
However, like with Houston, Anthony would have to come off the bench in the Bay Area. With Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and a healthy DeMarcus Cousins, Golden State already has a starting lineup featuring five All-Stars.
Not to mention the fact Golden State isn't in a position to add any more potential drama to the mix right now. And as decorated as the former scoring champ's career has been, the Warriors (12-4, first place in the West) doesn't need him. They have made four consecutive Finals and won three titles during that span.
That's not to say that there won't be interest in Anthony—it just won't be from Golden State.
Anthony previously drew interest from the Miami Heat before signing with the Rockets. The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor said on his podcast recently that the Los Angeles Lakers, the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans could be fits.
Spears also added recently on ESPN's The Jump that the Philadelphia 76ers were also a team to keep an eye on if Anthony became a free agent but revealed the Lakers may not have much interest:
For now, Anthony must wait to see what his future holds.